Dec 15, 2021
I have just finished a very short but intensive training program. The whole experience is truly unforgettable: I talked with a lot of people, mostly of my level and my age from diverse backgrounds. And my horizons have honestly been broadened therefore. It is so nice to have these conversations.
On the other hand, I did obtain a lot of practical knowledge through presenting my own slides as well as watching others’ slides and live presentations.
On top of everything, a good presentation requires a large amount of time to prepare. I was required to make just one slide and 90-sencond presentation to introduce myself, yet I prepared for a whole week, including the weekend, to draft the speech and decide what should be included and excluded from my slide. Space is limited and precious so I wanted the elements most relevant to my topic. This leads me to Point 1.
Point 1: Concentrate on the topic.
My job was to introduce myself then undoubtedly the topic is “ME”. So for the content of this presentation, I will not hesitate to post something highly individual to exhibit my personal characteristics. So I carefully choose my personality, which I hope can be remembered. I assume this is the best way to move my audience, because THIS IS ME. My topic is clear: in this 90 seconds, I am the whole world.
Point 2: Fewer texts, more pictures.
I myself do not like the slides with large pieces of texts because I can easily get distracted. Similarly, my audience is supposed to pay attention to my speech, which means, my speech matters more than my slides. And for this self-introduction slide, I would like to put my headshot, looking refreshed, energetic and passionate. It is also good if I put a photo of team activities, and mark/highlight myself. I will not choose to put my resume up there. It is my job to do the introduction, not the sentences’.
Point 3: Make it clear.
This point is applicable to many parts of the slide. For the background, it does not matter if it is black or white or any other color, but it does matter if the texts and pictures are contrast and clear enough to be seen. For the format, maybe Google slide is better and more convenient than the traditional pptx files. For the logos, I would like to show my respect and sense of belongings by adding some logos of my college, my university, my company or partnered institutions, which depends on the specific occasion. For the storyline, whether I am using a timeline, four quadrants or some screenshots, I want it to be concise and coherent.
Finally I guess it is time for me to relax and enjoy The Sound of Music.
