MediaWiki Users and Developers Conference 2024

Search
Close this search box.

Friendly tips for Speakers

Short and sweet tips for your memorable presentation

They say–a dad joke–if you find a mistake, keep it. Please give us the benefit of the doubt if the follo­wing sounds funny to your ears. We are not native speak­ers, and as Viennese, we generally use language in a funny way—well, “funny”—mostly swearing. 

We’re thril­led about the busy schedule for this confe­rence! With such a packed program, time is precious, so here are some simple ideas to help you craft a talk that resona­tes, even with a shorter slot.

Know your timing

To prepare for your talk, please review the time alloca­ted to your talk. Some slots had to be shortened to bring in all the voices from the commu­nity. Parti­cu­larly when time is short, opt for quality. Your talk might be as memorable, albeit the length. Distill your message like fine Austrian schnaps instead of dragging it out like an Apfelstrudel.

Engage­ment is everything

When listen­ers are engaged, they gain the most from your presen­ta­tion. Engage­ment doesn’t just mean interaction—it can also be silent reflec­tion, focused listening, or a perso­nal inter­nal debate. To spark that engage­ment, consider these ideas:

  • Ask questi­ons: Don’t wait for the end to open the floor for questi­ons. Start your talk with questi­ons that your audience might be thinking, and build your presen­ta­tion around answe­ring them.
  • Show your perso­na­lity: Whether you’re provo­ca­tive, humorous, or uncon­ven­tio­nal, bring your perso­na­lity into the room. Sabine, for example, usually keeps her peeps alert with her strict tone, while Bernhard is famous for his straight­for­ward approach. Both (hopefully) work because they fit the speaker’s style.

Add a perso­nal twist

When time is tight, it’s crucial to keep things clear and focused. Rather than overwhel­ming your audience with infor­ma­tion, try narro­wing down your talk to its core message. Here are a few creative ways to handle short presentations:

  • Find freedom in limita­ti­ons: While time constraints can feel limiting, they can also inspire clarity, focus, and creati­vity, allowing your message to shine through. Embrace the chall­enge! For instance, try limiting yours­elf to 5 slides in 5 minutes, using only black-and-white visuals, or opting for a live demo instead of relying on PowerPoint.
  • Images instead of text: Consider elimi­na­ting text entirely from your slides. Stick to visuals and speak as if you’re explai­ning your idea to a friend. Or flip it around and go without any design. Either way, save the extra details, recom­men­ded readings, and helpful links on your talk page—it’s like our digital version of confe­rence procee­dings and a post-conference catalo­gue, minus the paper waste.

Respect the power of positive criticism

We value open, produc­tive discus­sions. If you disagree with someone’s approach, do it with care: acknow­ledge the work done and efforts made, give the benefit of the doubt, and provide construc­tive sugges­ti­ons. Criti­cism without a path to impro­ve­ment is rarely helpful. And remem­ber: if the feedback is sensi­tive, please handle it priva­tely, not in front of an audience.

Conti­nue the conversation

That being said,—coffee breaks, lunch, and hacka­thons are great times to conti­nue the conver­sa­tion. Approach someone and make that perso­nal connec­tion, even if it’s brief.

Take our advice lightly

Finally, remem­ber: these are simply sugges­ti­ons meant to support, not instruct. Take what works for you, and adapt as needed. It is your talk, and your unique voice, what we are most looking forward to! 

Let’s create a fun event together, as round and moving as the Riesenrad.

—Thank you!
Bernhard & Sabine