Crafting Effective Technical Talks: A Blueprint for Software Conferences and Meetups
Creating a compelling software talk is about telling a story. There are many approaches to storytelling, and if you have one that works for you, you probably don’t need to finish this blog post. But, if you are new to speaking and presenting, I have a simple formula for creating a talk that I use every time I present. Whether gearing up to deliver a technical talk at a software conference or technology low-key meetup, there are three steps you need to follow when crafting a compelling presentation:
- Setup the problem
- Explain YOUR solution
- Show your solution
The Problem Statement:
As technologists, we thrive on solving problems. So we WANT to know the problem that inspired this talk. Begin by clearly articulating the problem you are addressing throughout the presentation. Whether it’s an industry challenge or a fun side project, articulate why you chose to tackle this particular problem and why it’s significant. Sometimes simple problems like I wanted to learn a new skill, and sometimes large problems like efficiently and securely scaling up a software stack. If it applies, explain the roadblocks that led to this solution, what the hurdles were in your way, and why those hurdles matter.
Problem statement checklist:
- What is the problem you are trying to solve?
