When working on scientific and technical presentations, I am often amazed by the wonders of the science being presented and, at the same time, shocked by the speaker’s lack of awe or appreciation for the mystery and power of his… Read More »Scientific Presentations and the Gettysburg Address
Ironically enough, the biggest challenge faced by people making scientific and technical presentations is their reluctance to follow the scientifically established principles of communication. What are those rules? One of them is that the human mind is drawn to problems,… Read More »Scientific and Technical Presentations
Asked to describe a speech, I think most of us would say, “It’s a guy standing at a lectern on a stage reading from notes, a script, or a teleprompter.” Asked to describe a presentation, we would say, “It’s somebody… Read More »What’s the Difference between a Speech and a Presentation?
People make fun of engineers–ribbing them for their introversion and poor communication skills. I don’t feel that way. Whenever I work with them on their technical and scientific presentations, I find them to be eager and open to new ideas. … Read More »Technical and Scientific Presentations: Engineering Better Talks
Last week I went to the third and last day of a meeting for engineers. After lunch, one of their senior leaders stood up and summarized every presentation they had experienced during the past three days. As he began to speak… Read More »Public Speaking: A Stunning Moment of Authenticity
When Medical Liaisons in big pharma are launching a drug with a major study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, you’d think their job would be easy. But it’s not. One way it’s difficult is in the variety… Read More »Persuasive Speaking: Medical Liaisons Tweaking Content