- Safe environment - everything that is said here stays here
- Active participation
- No laptops
- Breaks & Refreshments
- Questions anytime and at the end
- Parking lot for topics that cannot be answered at that moment
- Content is dynamic based on the group's needs - skipping topics when necessary
- Feedback at the end
- Activity: Each participant will:
- Introduce themselves with their First Name (and nickname, if they wish).
- Share a funny anecdote about themselves.
- Share an interesting fact about themselves or their "super power".
- Time limit: 45 seconds per person.
- Important: Please do not include:
- Last name
- Profession
- Length of time with Rockwell
- No one is interested in "how long you have worked here" (unless you are brand new or you have 30+ years)
- Most people do not like to introduce themselves in a group
- Anecdotes and funny stories: Most people think they cannot tell them
- However: It creates rapport and eventually eases nerves
- As a facilitator, your role is to actively engage the audience, urging them to step out of their "comfortable chairs in front of the TV." Without this push, they may remain in a passive state, as if glued to the screen.
- Know Your Audience
- Speech Message
- Speech/Presentation Structure
- Vocal Variety
- Body Language
- Using Humor and Anecdotes
- Facilitation of a meeting, Handling Questions
- Usage of AI
- Additional Topic - Selling Yourself as a Tech Professional
- Additional Topic - Cultural differences
- Key Takeaways
- Feedback
Find out who is your audience
Who Should Get the Message? It's not just about who is in the meeting, but who should get the message? Types of Audience Engineers? Other teams? Management? One or two key stakeholders? (Architect, Director, VP, …) Remember the Quiz? Do you remember the quiz you got prior to this meeting? Results Action Item Customize your message to captivate your audience in your next presentation!
- Key Idea: What should the listener take away from the presentation?
- One main idea
- 1-2 supporting ideas
- Do not communicate/read/focus on everything with the same urgency.
- Sprint Review
- Architecture Readout
- Demo Presentation
- Activity 1: Split into teams (2-3 people, not knowing each other, different jobs).
- Activity 2: Using flip charts, prepare a sorted list of main ideas for the speech message in any presentation type listed above.
Basics
Introduction (10%) Capture interest (Why should I listen?) Tell them what you are going to tell them Body (80%) Core message supported with evidence Body details Chronological ordering: Sub points are ordered by time, following a specific sequence. Spatial ordering: Sub points are arranged by physical space or location (e.g., along a path, top to bottom). Causal ordering: Sub points are paired to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships. Faceted or Topical ordering: Sub points cover different, independent aspects of a topic. Problem/Solution ordering: Sub points are paired to present a problem followed by its solution. Conclusion (10%) Tell them what you have just told them (Summary)
Additional Tips
The Power of Three: Organize your points into groups of three. Avoid jumping randomly between topics. Repeat key ideas: i.e., it is critical to focus on the Introduction and Conclusion, or your presentation will fail! Why Speech Structure Matters: A clear structure keeps your audience engaged and ensures your message is memorable.
Activity: Storyboard Swap
In your group: Sketch a 5-slide presentation outline on paper for a technical topic (e.g., using AI for automatization of beer production). Swap and Refine: Exchange outlines with another pair, refine their structure, and prepare a 1-minute presentation. This exercise encourages constructive critique of presentation structure. Presentation Time: 30 minutes total. 2 min – Choose topic 10 mins – Slide preparation (Focus on the structure!) 10 mins – Exchange materials, refine the structure, prepare 1-minute version Remaining time: One person from each group will present to the larger group Important: Prepare this presentation with care. We will be building upon it throughout the workshop, and everyone will have the opportunity to present it.
- Vocal Variety Vicky: Vicky is the lively one who keeps everyone on their toes with her dynamic voice. She knows how to change her pitch, pace, and volume to keep the audience engaged. Whether she's whispering a secret or booming with excitement, Vicky ensures that no one ever gets bored.
- Body Language Benny: Benny is the expressive one who communicates just as much with his body as he does with his words. He uses gestures, facial expressions, and movement to emphasize his points and connect with the audience. Benny's presence on stage makes the message more impactful and memorable.
- Humor Harry: Harry is the joker of the family who knows how to lighten the mood and make people laugh. He uses appropriate jokes, anecdotes, and a touch of wit to keep the audience entertained and relaxed. Harry's humour helps to build rapport and make the presentation more enjoyable.
- Especially important during remote presentations.
- Main elements of vocal variety: pitch, pace, and volume.
- Tip to remind yourself to vary your vocal style:
- Change with every slide or topic.
- Key takeaway:
- It's easy, and everyone can do it! Prepare each presentation by adding small, invisible markings to remind you to talk slowly, quickly, loudly, etc.
Optional Activity:
Repeat the previous 1-minute presentation prepared in the Speech Structure section, focusing on Vocal Variety this time.
- Maintain an open posture.
- Use gestures effectively:
- For example, when counting (1, 2, 3).
- Make eye contact.
- Incorporate movement (use the stage, but avoid excessive movement).
- For online presentations:
- Position the webcam appropriately.
- Stand up, if possible.
- Use hand gestures and facial expressions (don't be afraid of overdoing it; it usually isn't too much!).
- ⛔ Avoid holding unrelated items in your hand.
- ⛔ Avoid hiding (behind notes, closed gestures, or hands in pockets).
- Repeat the previous 1-minute presentation prepared in the Speech Structure section, focusing on Vocal Variety & Body Language this time.
- Complements Vocal Variety Vicky and Body Language Benny
- Creates rapport with the audience
- Be authentic and genuine
- Make fun of situations, yourself, or failures, but avoid targeting individuals in the audience
- Embrace imperfection; people appreciate authenticity
- Being perfect often comes across as inauthentic
- Don't try to be perfect, people generally hate those who seem perfect!
Optional Challenging Activity
Using everything you've learned so far, think about adding a humorous element to your one-minute presentation. Tip: Consider sharing a personal failure, highlighting common pitfalls to avoid, or recounting a disastrous experience—all while keeping it light and appropriate.
- Group Activity
Facilitation of a meeting
Preparation is crucial: Plan thoroughly to ensure a smooth event. Send unique invitations: Make your invitation stand out. Always provide a meaningful agenda: Ensure attendees know the meeting's purpose. Tip: If there's no agenda, request one. Don't attend meetings without a clear agenda. Avoid unnecessary meetings: The best meeting is the one that doesn't need to happen. Facilitator as leader: Steer discussions, prevent digressions into minor details or off-topic conversations. Time-box topics: Allocate specific time for each agenda item. Monitor time: Remind participants of the current time. Suggest alternative discussions: Recommend discussing off-topic items elsewhere and sharing the results later. Amazon's Two-Pizza Rule: Limit team meeting size to ensure two pizzas can feed the entire group, promoting focused discussion.
Handling Questions:
Always value questions: Start by acknowledging the question with phrases like "Thanks for the question" or "That's an excellent question." This encourages participation. Ensure you understand the question: Before answering, rephrase the question to confirm your understanding. This prevents misinterpretations and ensures a relevant response. Admit when you don't know the answer: If you're unsure, be honest. Offer to follow up with the answer later, demonstrating your commitment to providing accurate information. "Park" questions if necessary: If a question is too complex, off-topic, or not addressable at the moment, acknowledge it and suggest discussing it separately.
- Whatever you use is right!
- Level 1: Fix the grammar
- Level 2: Improve the text
- Level 3: Get illustrations
- Level 4: Get your slides improved by AI
- Be careful – it should be still you!
- Level 5: Get your slides generated by AI
- Be careful – it should be still you!
- Your experience?
- Every presentation, speech, or interaction is an opportunity to stand out as a proffesional.
- What can help – and what can damage – a professional before/during/after the presentation?
- Group activity
- What are the main differences between cultures comparing to Czech people? Consider communication styles (direct vs. indirect), attitudes toward hierarchy, and approaches to time management.
- Group activity: Discuss personal experiences interacting with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Share insights and observations about cultural nuances and potential misunderstandings.
- My List
- Focus on the audience is key!
- Do not focus on everything (do not tell everything). Make sure that the key idea is communicated and remembered.
- Speech/Presentation structure is the key that allows listeners to follow what you say.
- Your List – write it down!
- What is the one main idea from this meeting that you will use in your next presentation?
- Books
- Dale Carnegie - How to Win Friends and Influence People (available in Czech as well https://www.databazeknih.cz/knihy/jak-ziskavat-pratele-a-pusobit-na-lidi-29416)
- David Gruber – Zlatá kniha komunikace https://www.databazeknih.cz/prehled-knihy/zlata-kniha-komunikace-62025
- Joe Girard - How to sell yourself (Jak prodat sám sebe - https://www.databazeknih.cz/knihy/jak-prodat-sam-sebe-1862170
- Speaking clubs
- Agora Speakers (https://www.agoraspeakers.org/)
- Toastmasters (https://www.toastmasters.org/)
- TedTalks
