Presenting Technical Information

Technical information, also known as jargon, includes special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand. When presenting this type of information, confusion and misunderstandings can occur. These training course materials have been designed to help participants appreciate the need to present technical information in such a way that the message is not only understood, but also appreciated and acted upon.

Most technical experts or managers will at some time be asked to present their ideas to others. This can prove a particularly difficult task for people who may not be skilled in delivering presentations in the first place. Even those people that have experience of presenting may fall into common traps when the information they have to get across is data driven.

Delivering technical information to an audience that understands the detail of the topic you are presenting is one thing, but connecting with an audience that is not technically minded and has little understanding of your message is quite another. It’s easy to bore an audience with a jargon-filled presentation with lots of technical PowerPoint slides that people can barely see. How do you deliver a technical presentation that everyone understands? How can you present data confidently and get results? This course has been designed to address these common concerns.

Topics covered:

• What Makes Information Technical? – Establishing what differentiates technical from non-technical information, and highlighting that what some people find non-technical may cause confusion for others. Identifying the pattern of technical information and the different forms it comes in.
• Types of Presentation – Exploring experiences of presenting and the different formats it can take.
• Purpose Statements – Focusing on the skills and techniques that will help create focus and understanding for the audience and add impact to presentations. Includes a session on writing clear purpose statements to set the groundwork for a good presentation.
• Analysing the Audience – Establishing the needs and wants of an audience and how best to get the message across.
• Introductions – Identifying the best methods of creating an impact at the start of a presentation with a chance to practice both writing and presenting an introduction with impact.
• Getting the Content Right – Creating a plan for the main content of the presentation and developing a clearly structured approach (several supplied). Knowing what to focus on, the priorities for information and how to make sure it is received and understood.
• Presenting Data – Choosing the best approach to suit the audience and the message that you want to get across. Using bar charts, line charts, pie charts and tables – how to present them to ensure clarity. Including images and pictures so that they are clear and understood. Knowing how to introduce visuals and communicate them to the audience so that they get the best response. Includes a clear structure for communicating the message of the visuals and technical data.
• Techniques for Presenting Technical Information – Using personal presentation techniques to get the most out of the technical information, including Using Your Voice, Grice’s Conversational Maxim, Stories, The Rule of Three, Analogies, Metaphors, Imagery and Basic Rhetorical Devices.
• Handling Questions – Covering a set of techniques for handling questions throughout a presentation.
• The Golden Rules – Reviewing a set of clear guidelines for performing effectively when presenting technical information.

A running theme throughout this training is for the participants to focus on a technical presentation that they have to make in the future and work on making it effective.