At Ethos3, we have lost our marbles over the real-time strategy game “Starcraft.” It’s a combination of a sci-fi military game and, believe it or not, chess. Every Friday, we host a tournament as part of one of our company’s many enrichment programs, which frequently turns into an (emotional) bloodbath. Check out the trailer to see what we mean. So what does that have to do with presentations? We believe that you can pull life (and presentation) lessons from this challenging, marvelous, and competitive game.
Don’t Buckle Under Pressure
One of the first things you learn to deal with in “Starcraft” is the extreme pressure of an early attack. While you’re trying to mine a few minerals, the enemy is at your front door shooting down your barrier and about to take over your base. Similarly, you may feel a sense of foreboding when you step into a room to present. Learning how to manage your natural fear is the only way to defeat the enemy. Or rather, do a great job presenting.
Practice to Improve
You can read a million articles, watch a trillion videos, and listen to advice from your friends. But the only way to improve at “Starcraft,” and presentations, is to practice. Aim to practice at least 7-8 times before you get on the stage, just as you would practice many times before playing a ranked match with another player for the first time. Not sure how to practice efficiently or where to start? We have a guide for that.
Early Game Victory
One of the strongest strategies you can have in “Starcraft” is an early game that terrifies (and defeats) your enemy. For example, Protoss using a Four Gate strategy, Zerg sending in an early Zergling rush, and Terran wiping out a base with a group of Marines. In the same way, if your presentation opening is strong, you will have an early victory over your audience. You can do this by perfecting the content of those first few sentences to start with a punch.
Work on Core Skills
APM in the “Starcraft” world means “Action Per Minute.” This is the speed at which you can make units and attack, and is a basic skill that means the difference between victory and defeat. Your core presentation skills are as follows: content, design, and delivery. Learn them, practice them, and win every battle.
Avoid Building Unnecessary Units
In “Starcraft,” you have a limited amount of resources to allocate towards building units. If you spend the game only building defensive structures, you’re throwing away your money. In the world of presentations, content works the same way. Make sure you are using words only when necessary and editing out anything that doesn’t strengthen your main point. Wordiness does not equal intelligence, just as large words don’t give you instant credibility. Write and deliver as you speak normally, and make sure your message is uncluttered.
Victory
There is no greater feeling than a “Starcraft” win…unless it’s a successfully delivered presentation, of course. Make sure you are practicing the skills you need to crush your opponents and convince your audience.
Question: What presentation lessons can you learn from “Starcraft”?
