I still remember my very first presentation many years ago. Someone in my team asked me to demo a project I’d been working on, and I was absolutely terrified. Public speaking is famously a top fear for most people, and I certainly felt that panic. But I also realized that getting good at presenting could really help my career. So I braced myself, took a deep breath, and did it. It was not nearly as hard as I was expecting, and once I started the presentation my nerves went away. Over time I just kept presenting at more and more events, and eventually I got comfortable doing it. Today, presenting is a big part of my job and something I truly enjoy. If I can go from scared to death to loving it, you can too!
Why Present?
Why should you even think about presenting if it makes you nervous? Well, speaking in public has a bunch of benefits. I found that preparing a talk really forced me to learn my subject inside-out. I also built my personal brand and network – people started remembering me when I spoke on something I was passionate about. Presenting helped me become a better communicator overall (including at non-technical events like my speech at my daughter’s wedding), and it’s been critical to my career success. Plus, there’s something really fun about teaching others and seeing their eyes light up when they understand what I am presenting.
- Passion: If there’s a topic you care about, why not share it? I always focus on areas that excite me, because that energy comes through in my talk.
- Learning: I learned early on that “teaching is learning twice.” By presenting, I forced myself to really understand the material.
- Career Boost: Presenting led to new opportunities for me. (Honestly, I went from an unknown to speaking at big conferences, and my income nearly tripled over a few years.) It can happen to you too with some persistence.
Finding Topics and Venues
New presenters often ask: Where do I even present? The good news is, there are many places to start small and work your way up.
- Start Local: I began with a quick “lunch and learn” at my office and my local user group/Meetup. These are low-pressure ways to share something with peers.
- Virtual Meetups: Online chapters and community streams are great too. Even during the pandemic, I did plenty of talks from my home office.
- Community Events: Look for events like SQLSaturday, local tech conferences, or hackathons. They often have speaker calls or welcome new speakers in “lightning” or “new speaker” tracks.
- Larger Conferences: Eventually I submitted abstracts to bigger conferences. They often encourage new speakers, so don’t be shy about trying.
Keep a list of every idea you have for a talk. I use OneNote and even just a simple text file. It doesn’t have to be unique or groundbreaking – presenters often reuse and update topics. For each idea, jot down a working title and a few bullet points on what you’d cover. I even keep a running list of talks I’ve given (title, event, date) on my blog, and upload my slides online after each talk. Seeing that list grow over time was really motivating for me.
Writing Your Abstract
Once you pick a topic and find a venue, you’ll usually need to write an abstract (a short description of your session) that you submit to the conference and hopefully get chosen. Here are a few things I do to improve my chances of getting chosen:
- Hit a Pain Point or Hot Topic: Think about what problems people have right now. For example, if everyone at work is talking about a new tool or feature, that’s a good hook.
- Know Your Audience: Will it be beginners, mid-level, or experts? Tailor your abstract so the reader knows it’s just for them.
- Get Feedback: I often ask a colleague or a mentor to review my abstract. A fresh set of eyes can catch stuff I missed.
I try to write the abstract before making slides. It forces me to outline the key points. In fact, I often create a simple outline or “story arc” for the talk first: intro, main points, conclusion. This makes it easier when I actually build the slides.
Building the Presentation
When I sit down to create slides, I follow a few personal rules to keep them effective and engaging:
- One Idea Per Slide: I try to put a single main idea or image on each slide. This keeps the audience focused. I’ve learned that people only retain maybe 20-30% of what you say, so I try not to overload slides with text.
- Less Text, More Graphics: I try to avoid many words on slides. Instead, I use diagrams, charts, or photos that illustrate the point. A good picture can say more than a paragraph of text.
- Tell Stories: Whenever possible, I add a short story or real-world example from my own experience. Stories are memorable and they keep people awake!
- Outline First, Then Slides: I actually create a bullet-point outline of my talk before bothering with slide design. Once the outline looks solid, I flesh out each bullet into a slide (or two), making sure each has a clear purpose.
- Rehearse with Tools: I use the PowerPoint Speaker Coach or Teams Speaker Coach or other apps (even a simple timer app) to practice my pacing and get feedback. This helps avoid surprises, like running out of time or having too much content. After you do many presentations, you will likely develop an innate sense of how long your deck will take to present.
Above all, I imagine I’m explaining the topic to a smart friend who’s curious but does not know the topic well. This mindset keeps the talk balanced between informative and entertaining.
Before I Step Up (Preparation)
I’m a big believer in not leaving anything to chance before a talk. Here’s my pre-talk checklist:
- Time It: I wear a watch or use my phone’s timer, so I can keep track of time without looking at the clock. I also ask the session chair or room monitor for a 10-minute warning. Many of the best clickers (like my Logitech R800) even has a built-in timer or vibration alert.
- Backup Plan: I always bring a copy of my slides on a USB stick and have them on the cloud. If my laptop fails or I can’t get on the Internet, I can quickly pull my slides up. I also shut off any screen savers or auto-updates on my device to avoid interruptions.
- Pointer/Clicker: A wireless clicker with a laser pointer is a lifesaver. It frees me to walk around and not be glued to the keyboard.
- ZoomIt (or equivalent): For technical talks, I often need to highlight parts of the screen. I use ZoomIt so I can draw on the screen during a demo.
- Health & Dress: I have a small bottle of water onstage in case my mouth goes dry. I also make sure to wear something at least as professional as the audience – often just a step above what people expect.
- Arrive Early: At least 15 minutes early, if possible. This gives me time to test the projector/mic, make sure my slides look good on the big screen, and to calm my nerves.
For virtual talks, I do extra prep too: I use an upgraded webcam and a powerful mic, and even join from a second device to see what the audience will see. I mute notifications and put my laptop in “Do Not Disturb” mode so I don’t get pop-up distractions. Little things like that help me appear professional and keep the focus on my content.
When You’re Up There
Once I’m in front of the audience (in-person or on camera), I follow a few “on stage” tips I’ve learned:
- Eye Contact: I try to look at different people around the room for a few seconds each. This makes it feel more conversational.
- Energy and Passion: I consciously add energy to my voice. I vary my tone and volume a bit – louder on key points, and I pause for effect. I smile and show that I’m enjoying the topic. I also try to add some humor along the way.
- Avoid Fillers: I watch out for filler words (“um”, “ah”, “you know”, “like”). Whenever I feel one coming, I just pause instead. A short silence is much better than a string of “ums”.
- Tell Personal Stories: If there’s a good story or memory related to the slide, I share it. This keeps things human and relatable.
- Engage the Audience: I like to ask a couple of quick, simple questions to the group. It wakes people up and lets me gauge interest. If someone asks a question, I repeat it for everyone and then answer.
- Watch the Clock: I keep an eye on my progress. If I see we’re running late, I might skip or speed up less essential parts.
- Stay Humble: I try to come off as someone friendly, not a know-it-all. If I don’t know an answer to a question, I’ll admit that and say I’ll look into it.
Throughout the talk, I use my voice and hands to emphasize points. Walking around is fine, but I’ll usually pause and stand still when making a key statement. That helps people absorb it.
After the Talk
I’ve found the most rewarding part often comes after the talk—when people come up to share their thoughts or ask questions.
- Q&A: I love hanging around afterward to chat. I put my email on the last slide, and I tell people they can email me if they think of questions later.
- Feedback: If there’s a survey or feedback form, I encourage attendees to fill it out honestly. I read every comment later.
- Reflect: I jot down notes right after the session about what went well and what didn’t.
- Share Slides: I usually mention at the start or end where they can find my slides.
And of course, celebrate a little. Every presentation I do, big or small, feels like a milestone. I give myself a quick mental high-five for facing the fear and getting through it.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve stuck with me this far, here’s my main message: Just do it. Seriously, sign up for a talk (even a tiny one) and go for it. The path to becoming a great presenter does start with that very first talk. You’ll learn more in that single presentation than weeks of reading about it. And you’ll have fun along the way.
So, schedule your first presentation soon. Write the abstract, make the slides, practice a bit, and get it on the calendar. Trust me, the anxiety you feel now will fade after a few minutes into the talk, and you’ll end up feeling proud and energized afterward. The first step is the hardest, but once you take it, you’ll never look back.
Go ahead – take that risk. You’ve got this!
The post Becoming a Presenter: My Journey and Tips first appeared on James Serra's Blog.