Presenting In-person To Diverse Audiences
In my career, I have created several PowerPoint briefs to illustrate my team’s plan to create aerodynamic databases to verify flight vehicle performance. I have presented these briefs in-person to audiences of up to approximately 50 people with diverse backgrounds and skill sets, such as technical engineers in other disciplines, test pilots, flight test engineers, systems engineering leads, chief engineers, and yes, even program managers at the highest level.
It was important for me to gear the briefs toward a wide audience, many of which didn’t have technical backgrounds. I accomplished this with separate slides for the introduction/objective, summary, and recommendations. For the main content, I used bullet points, graphics, and a statement at the bottom of each slide contained in a colored box that served as a banner to summarize that slide only. While these appear like basic tips, I did not always see them adopted, but could tell the difference when they were.
My presentations were also effective because the chief engineers and program managers always provided the funding and applicable contractual support needed to make these models a reality.
Interestingly, PowerPoints weren’t required during many of the in-person presentations I’ve given. I could have easily stood up in front of my audience and described our team’s plan verbally. I made the briefs because I wanted to, because I felt committed to the cause. I knew the audience would be more successful at their jobs if I could get my point across to them.
My desire to produce briefs stemmed from asking myself this question: what would be possible for the program managers and the Naval fleet (the stakeholders) if I were successful at getting my point across? I could help design effective flight vehicle systems and clear them for flight, and the fleet could leverage these systems in defense of our country. In addition, I could provide the most accurate mission planning products possible for aircrew to exploit these vehicles at their optimum performance. And these answers draw upon who I am: someone who can marvel at the capability and functionality of these amazing machines, which lets me express a sense of wonder and a feeling of limitless possibility. It was a no-brainer for me to invest all I had into these presentations.