It would take quick thinking, careful planning, and grace under pressure.
Oddly enough, these are the same principles it takes to craft an effective presentation.
This post originally appeared onMaster Presenting.
We talk about what we would do to survive if the zombie apocalypse broke out.
It all boils down to the essentials, and these essentials are the same when it comes to presenting.
Have Your Endgame Decided
You know who gets whacked early in the zombie apocalypse?
It’s people who can’t make a decision.
Their sense of urgency is diluted in panic.
They try to grab too much stuff and it’s too latezombie chow.
When you present, you want to have the objectives of your content to be clear.
What do you want your listeners to know at the end of your presentation?
Write thatfirstand shape your presentation around those goals.
Otherwise you talk about too much and the eyes of your audience glaze overzombie chow.
Sorry, but Bosco the puppy doesn’t belong in your presentation if it doesn’t accomplish your goals.
People don’t watch your presentation for fluff.
They watch it toknowandfeel.ensure that everything you have aims towards your points.
Hack away the fluff.
You’ll bea more powerful presenter.
Have the Necessary Tools for Those Emergencies
Sometimes that door you’re going for is locked.
The window is too high.
The car is out of gas and it’s possible for you to hear the zombies growling.
In the presenting world, sometimes the projector is faulty or your rig isn’t compatible.
You forgot the thing that connects your setup to their projector.
When you are going to present, double-check you bring spares of everything.
Have your emergency kit prepped.
Here’s what I personally do:
Upload your presentation to Dropbox in Keynote and Powerpoint.
Upload your handouts as well and have everything on a flash drive.
If you are printing handouts, print 20% extra.
Bring multiple connectors to connect your gear to the projector.
(And ask what exactly you need before you present.)
If you plan on using a whiteboard, pack your own dry-erase markers.
(The last person may have ruined them.)
There is good chance they might cut your time to speak.
Can you make your presentation 30 minutes instead of 45?
Maybe it’s the oppositethey need you to talk a little longer.
The next speaker is late.
Can you lengthen the presentation?
Being prepared for these emergencies will help calm your nerves as you approach the stage.
In other words, you want to gather people together.
One strategy I implement is when I’m finished presenting I offer up a follow up somewherelive or online.
If I can’t do that, I’ll offer a Google hangout.
This way I can gauge my true fans who want more information and possibly my services.
And if you’re wondering where you should go in the zombie apocalypsethe answer is the DMV.
I guarantee that place will be empty.
Who wants to be thereever?
He has spoken all over the world, including Afghanistan.
He is an Apple fanatic, voracious reader and lover of things pumpkin flavored.
He can be reached at[email protected].
Illustration by Tina Mailhot-Roberge.
Additional photos byKenny Louie,Brandon Daniel,Matthew Hogan, andJosh Jensen(Flickr).
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