So many talks are just lists! Here's all the things we did, all the papers published, all the grants won. Much better to make a point! Have a key message, an agenda, something that the talk revolves around. Say something of note. #Academia #PHDChat #Research #Presentations

Communication isn’t just the words you say. Saying “I’m fine!” with a smile, vs saying it with gritted teeth – big difference. The emotion behind the words can change or reinforce their meaning. Speakers who emote, just a little, give their words more emphasis and guide the audience on how to feel.

People who learn scripts can get very caught up in saying the right word. To the point they stumble if they use a different one of the script. But is almost never words that matter... its the meaning you make, and there are lots of different routes to that meaning.

Right, let me talk about slide templates. Most universities have an official slide template everyone is told to use. More often than not these are rubbish. Focusing on splashing the university logo around so much there is no space for actual content. #PHD #Research #Presenting #PHDChat

Audience switching off during a talk? Could be cognitive overload. Audiences need to take in a lot: there's visual stimulus, audio stimulus, background stuff. And then you need them to think and process the information. Don't make the problem worse with cluttered slides or lots of jargon.

If you want people to care about your data you have to show them the 'meaning'... This line is higher than this line....so what?? This spiky bit is cool... so what?? Data is an idicator of something, never forget to tell your audience what that something is!

We all get nervous. Presenting nerves appear because we fear the unknown/the unfamiliar. Dry throat, hot face, queasy stomach all happen because of our fight or flight response to the unknown. This is why rehearsal matters - you are making the unknown known. #Academia #PHDChat #Presentations

“Always make eye contact” – really? Directed, sustained, unbroken eye contact is a bit creepy. An audience just needs to know that you’re including them – a bit of eye contact here & there, even just scanning across the room, is enough. And it’s harder for some than others – so don’t judge.

5 ways to simplify complex topics so audiences understand them. 1. Simplify your language, both technical jargon and just words 2. Chunk the information- break it down 3. Use metaphors and examples to help them 'see' 4. Provide relevant context 5. Go slowly

A pause in a presentation is great for your audience. It gives them time to process what you just said and builds anticipation for what you are about to say. You don't have to fill ALL the space with words.

You can communicate complex/detailed information slowly OR Simple information fast. You can't do complex info fast Presenting is usually a FAST medium. Do less stuff, slower!

Don’t know the answer to a question? Say “I don’t know” – it’s fine. Maybe you don’t know right now but could look it up – or you’ve forgotten cause of the stress of public speaking, It’s fine. You are allowed – nay entitled – to say you don’t know. “Let’s chat afterwards” is a great follow up.

To be an effective modern research lead, it’s no longer enough to just be good at the research. You have to collaborate, fundraise, profile build, project manage, people manage, budget, report, strategize and generally be on top of things. The current system does not prepare new leads to do this.

Doing Research Impact requires; explaining, discussing, persuading, encouraging, teamwork, collective problem solving, inspiring. All of which require the skills of speaking and presenting.

Body Language analysis can get really nitpicky. "Do this, don't do that. Pay attention to every tiny thing" For a good presentation, it's really the overall impression that matters. What are you doing and how does it make the audience feel? Is that the feeling you want to create? #PHDChat

Every friend group has at least one person who cannot recommend a single book. You ask them what you should read next, and they're like 'The Dying Stars' and you're like OK is that one book or- and they say 'oh it's book one of the dying sky trilogy, each of which is 19 books'

If you don’t think strategically about how, when, where and to whom you are presenting your research, you’re unlikely to be able to achieve your impact goals. Speaking is an incredibly powerful pathway to impact, but few people use it strategically at team or project level.

My top five favourite words to pronounce like they’re Greek philosophers…   5. Monocles 4. Bicycles 3. Popsicles 2. Obstacles 1. Testicles

If most of the presentations you see are kinda boring... if you want to be better you have to be different. We won't get exciting energised presentations by doing the same as everyone else.

Why does professional always mean conforming to confident masculine culture? Screw that. “Professional” is getting your job done. What’s not professional is thinking someone isn’t good at their job because they use emojis! 😤 Communication evolves, and the trajectory is to the less formal.

A lot of what looks like confidence on stage is actually just the willingness to step forward and take up space. To say, I’m in charge for the next 20 mins. I’ll direct what happens and you follow. It's less about feeling confident and more about leading a room.

STOP PUTTING STUFF ON A SLIDE AND THEN NOT TALKING ABOUT IT!!! If its not important then why is it there? If it is important then why don’t you mention it! #PHD #Research #Academic #Presenting #PHDChat

The goal at the start of a presentation is to make your audience curious enough to pay attention to the next bit.

Presenting online isn’t much different - except, we have to fit it all into this little box. Keep your hands inside the box by tucking your elbows in (T.rex style!). That little box sucks also energy out, so put extra variety and emphasis into your voice, to avoid sounding too flat and boring.

What's the biggest crime people commit when it comes to their presentation slides? We ask lots of people this - and the answers all add up to "too much stuff" People put too much stuff on their slides and it overwhelms the audience. Stop it. #Academia #PHDChat #Research #Presentations

Public speaking, storytelling, persuasive pitching, facilitation, explanation – these are all skills required by the modern research process if it is to have any sort of impact beyond the walls of universities. It’s something the system fails to teach very well.

Can I just present off my laptop screen? Yes, to about 3 or 4 people, and then only when you're all sat at the same table. Any more than that and you want to be up on a big projector screen or display screen. If people can't see what you're doing -what's the point. #PHDChat #Presentations

You don't have to do Q&A at the end You can do it earlier leaving you 5mins to wrap up. This lets you control the last thing they see and hear, rather than teh quesions. What do you want to leave them with? #PHD #Research #Academic #Presenting #PHDChat

For some people, a presentation is; - The slides - On a big stage - An exam/judgment When actually its; - 1 person talking to more than one other. And they are trying to achieve something with the conversation.

Fundamentally, a good presentation is one that achieves its goal. But most speakers in academia don’t know what they are trying to achieve beyond "tell people about the stuff" Meaning, they CAN’T do a good presentation.

I can guarantee that your life will not be made one iota happier, richer or safer by being beastly to trans people.

This is also true if you get audiences falling asleep in your presentations. No one owes you attention, you need to earn it

“I just let the data speak for itself” Risky! Different audiences will take away different meanings from the same data. The audience hasn’t got the time to consider all the nuances - cut to the chase and tell them the meaning they should take away. #Academia #PHDChat #Research #Presentations

Treat your presentation content as modular. Every time you have a new talk, you can move some building blocks of content over. Old blocks are rearranged, and maybe new ones are swapped in. When you repeat blocks, you learn them, so you're have a head start in being prepared next time! #Research

Here's something childish to start your week. If you'd like one of these to hand in the loo, I can draw one for you. www.worldofmoose.com/collections/...

Microphones Do I really need a microphone? Yes! You might think you have a booming voice, but It's not about you & folks at the back may be struggling with the echo, or the hum of the air con, or using a hearing aid & induction loop. If its provided, use the mic. #Academia #PHDChat #Presentations

Communication is like a game of catch. You need someone to throw the ball and someone willing and able to catch it - it's a two-way thing. You can throw all you like, but if the audience isn't engaged and ready to catch the ball, then you're just playing by yourself* *and this isn't the place

Setting up a conflict structure is great whenever you need to compare two things, call people to action, or persuade. It highlights the differences between the two situations, or outcomes. The audience invests in how will this resolve, will one side win?

Data tips... Do slow down; complex info needs to be taken slowly. Do spend time setting the context of the data before showing the graph. Do connect the data to the MEANING - this is crucial; data on its own tells me nothing of value.

Tech Advice Always remember to carry your talk on a memory stick, in case the tech options in the room are limited. Sometimes the cables are broken, or there is no wifi, or your laptop dies etc - have a back up. #Academia #PHDChat #Research #Presentations

Don’t apologise! This is something I see a lot folk apologise for how bad they are at public speaking, or for how boring their content is going to be. or make some apology adjacent comment like “Time for the dull bit” or “I won’t go on too long”

Top presentation tip To engage well humans need a bit of variety. We just cannon focus on something that stays the same for a long time. For long presentations break them up with activities, polls, videos or anything that lets the audience focus on something else.

*Storytelling* Storytelling is powerful. Its our oldest form of communication. Arguably, there have been stories as long as there have been humans. If you package your research comms as storytelling, you get a more engaged audience that wants to listen and will remember your key message #PHDChat

Little reminder that a lightning talk of 3 or 5 mins is not the same as your 20 min talk you did last month. Don't think of it as cutting down a longer set, think of it as its own thing build it from the ground up around the 1 point you want to make. #PHD #AcademicTalks #Conferences

Eating cold crumble for breakfast while watching the snow fall feels like a vibe.

“But that’s the way talks have always been done!” – academia has a huge status quo bias, change is slow. Embrace your rebellious side and go do your talks differently! Audiences get bored, so novelty is a big asset. And by doing it YOUR WAY, it’ll be more honest, authentic, and genuine. #PHDChat

*Am I allowed?* - is a phrase we hear a lot from researchers. We often assume we need permission. Permission to be interesting, to be different, to be ourselves. But know this: only you can give yourself permission, many of the things that feel like 'rules' aren't. #Academia #PHDChat

Storytelling is not always effective Remember, the goal is to get your audience to listen to what you're saying and understand it. If storytelling isn't going to help with that, abandon ship!

Here are some bad bits of commonly given presentation advice to avoid - make eye contact - Just tell stories - Start with a Joke - Be yourself - Use your slides as handouts - More visuals! - Memorize everything - Dress more formally than your audience #Presentation #Academic

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