We all love to feel secure. We like to feel safe in knowing that we have our acts together whether we are talking about work or love or money. No one likes to feel like there is something “out there” that they don’t understand. However, the world has a way of tipping over our little canoes right at the moment when we’ve relaxed and become comfortable, feeling like we have it all under control.
That’s usually when the wave hits.
It’s called change and it’s here to stay. Today’s expert is tomorrow’s novice – and that’s not a bad thing. Instead of feeling like you are constantly running a losing race, pounding out frantic mile after frantic mile on a treadmill with no off switch, take a broader view when it comes to keeping up with the latest, greatest gadgets, gear, styles and tips that are going to keep you at the top of your game as a presenter.
First of all, you can’t learn everything. Once you admit this you should feel a great weight rising from your shoulders as your breathing returns to normal and the slightest, weary smile cracks lightly across your face. Don’t even try to know everything! Take a lesson from the humble sea anemone: keep your feelers out! Be aware of the changing tides and gobble up everything within reach!
We all know that trends can be annoying, especially when they are a dime-a-dozen and seldom result in significant change. This is one reason why it’s silly to follow every ripple in the pond. Did you know anyone who owns a Segway? We rest our case. At the same time, trends sometimes lead to movements that lead to innovations. Be discerning, but stay aware!
Since starting this new year, we have been tracking some significant trends regarding presentations. Some of these may be familiar, some may offer brand new insights, but they are all strong currents in the water right now and they represent the cutting edge in what is shaping up to be a very exciting time.
Ignite and Pecha Kucha Keep Making Waves
The Pecha Kucha presentation style first gained footing in the world of architecture and design as it offered a unique, fast format for sharing work with clients and peers. The style consists of 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide for a total presentation time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds. Pecha Kucha has rhythm and speed and it’s no surprise that the latest trends see Pecha Kucha making the leap from the design world into academia and business communities. The Ignite style – 20 slides at 15 seconds per slide – clocks in right at 5 minutes and is optimal for a straight-forward idea pitch. Both styles have become so popular that they have spawned events. Pecha Kucha nights have sprung up in cities around the world and the Ignite format is featured every year at the South by Southwest Music Conference and Film Festival.
Twitter Ruffles Feathers
In case you didn’t know, everyone is Tweeting! We didn’t realize that microblogging about the Doritos you are about to purchase at the grocery store would become such a big deal, but it has! Twitter has changed the way we stay in touch, market our work and view the world. It was only a matter of time before the trend came to presenting. This year has seen a rise in the use of the service to create more interactivity during presentations. One day soon an audience may be Tweeting as much as the presenter is speaking, creating a real time dialogue with comments and questions arising in the moment, changing the entire concept of the Q & A.
TED <head>
When you start paying attention to trends, you’ll notice that they can move in more than one direction: progress is a two way street! Just as the Pecha Kucha and Ignite styles have given rise to events built around their formats, recent high-profile conferences have in turn spawned presentation styles of their own. The TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conferences have resulted in a new, popular, 18 minute presentation format, and have pioneered new possibilities for recasting presentation content as a must-see website. The <head> conferences have gone one step further, creating global, virtual presentation environments featuring interactive, real-time chat rooms for feedback and Q&A.
