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detectivegibbles

Sales Director

Politicker
Acclaimed Answer
Executive
+10

Speaking at a conference this week...Advice?

Have a speaking engagement this week in front of 150+ doctors in our market.


Attended this conference last year, there were few speakers that were engaging at all.


Length is 8-10 minutes.


I have a very basic powerpoint on the topic I'm speaking on but using it more of a reference versus speaking right off of it.


The good news is if I completely bomb, I can go get drunk and gamble (in vegas).


Anyone in here have experience speaking at conferences? Advice?

🏫 Conferences
12

20 comments

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Justatitle
Big Shot
8
Account Executive
Robin Williams in Patch Adams and have them set up a giant set of female legs to stand in between as a pun for the gynos
jefe
Arsonist
7
🍁
.
Filth
Politicker
8
Live Filthy or Die Clean
I have experience doing public speaking and I have a lot of experience with doctors (whole family of them). Make sure you're speaking to them like a conversation, not reading. Pick some random eyes to make contact with - move as you talk but don't twitch or run around. Pause and take your time, ask some questions, crack jokes (more below). Drop some new interesting things in the field that you can tie and and get interest in (space medicine reports? Cell cloning? some sort of cancer knocked out or an experimental surgery took place? IDK not up to speed on my medical news) - think a bit of click bait with a creative connection to your topic. Also, and this is key, HUMOR and more specifically, make fun of doctors as a whole.

Some topics for said jokes: They suck at admin work, it's always tendinitis - walk it off, of course I won't get any medical treatment myself I'm a doctor, always keep you waiting/never on time (can make them sit for a few minutes at the beginning and say you are getting revenge for you patients), still working to pay off their loans etc...get creative - they are doctors and all have dark humor they see weird gross shit and stay sane so they have to.

You want them to come talk to you after, not necessarily know everything when you're done talking so make sure you get them thinking, not inundated with all the data.
oldcloser
Arsonist
3
💀
Gotta joke. Gotem in my family too.

Open with an AI joke. Maybe like, “wow thank you! I was expecting a much smaller crowd since AI has replaced half of you..” Then point at one and say “Dr, YOU apparently didn’t get that memo. You’re free to go.”

Ok, maybe not that particular joke, but it is top of mind with them.
Filth
Politicker
5
Live Filthy or Die Clean
I'm a fan of this one @oldcloser I also imagine you delivering it while grabbing your collar like Harvey Dangerfield.
Fenderbaum
Politicker
2
Retired Choirboy🪕
Rodney, Rodney Dangerfield! No respect... no respect at all! 🤣🤣🤣
jefe
Arsonist
8
🍁
You've got some good tips here - @Justatitle 's can't be beat.

I've done this a few times, and the only thing I'll add is to slow down! It might feel ridiculous, but it's so natural to start talking quickly when you get up there.

I can't imagine I'm the only natural fast-talker in the War Room.
Justatitle
Big Shot
6
Account Executive
I have intentionally slowed myself down for the last 4 years and now it seems like I move at snails pace when really it’s just normal.
jefe
Arsonist
6
🍁
IT FEELS SO DAMN STRANGE AND UNNATURAL. But you're right - it's actually normal and not some weird drawl.
HVACexpert
Politicker
2
sales engineer
Yes this, be deliberate when you talk, a slight pause or two will help.
jefe
Arsonist
2
🍁
Deliberate is the perfect descriptor, and pauses are key. Keep everyone rapt.
TennisandSales
Politicker
6
Head Of Sales
1. be engaging - this is just public speaking 101 but i would do your best to act confident and show that you believe in what ever your saying, this will help the audience connect to you.
2. be specific - the more specific the point you are trying to make the greater the impact it will have. you HAVE to make it easy for ppl to answer "so what was that talk all about"
3. be practical - if you can teach the audience something, or give practical things they can go do to impact their business after hearing you talk that is a MAJOR win. People want to learn, they want to be able to do something better after hearing someone talk. the ones that do that well are the ones that crush it.
HVACexpert
Politicker
2
sales engineer
This is great advice.
oldcloser
Arsonist
5
💀
1. Tell them what you’re going to tell them, and why.
2. Tell them
3. Tell them what you told them, and how to learn more. (From you)

Solid 10 minute format
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Good for you for not reading the slide. Never read the slide. That alone causes me to lose consciousness during any presentation.
You've gotten some great advice. Come back and update us on how it went. Good luck!
Pachacuti
Politicker
3
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
I have found that using Statistics will engage an audience very quickly - especially if they are outside-the-box stats. Then telling a story. Then getting to your point.

Something like "In the average lifetime, a person will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator. Odontophobia is the fear of teeth. The 57 on Heinz ketchup bottles represents the number of varieties of pickles the company once had."

Find something barely semi-relatable to the Drs and you'll have their attention for the rest of the speech.
J.J.McLure
Politicker
2
Owner at *redacted*
https://youtu.be/8S0FDjFBj8o?si=R9aWNa__j2S9iPwT

This is a whole Ted talk about how to sound smart while he says nothing of substance. If you talk like that AND have something you’re talking about, you’re golden
BigShrimpin
Catalyst
1
Account executive
make it relevant to their pain vs pitching your product doctors are smart enough to understand you have the solution if you can diagnose their issue properly
HVACexpert
Politicker
1
sales engineer
Take your time. People tend to speak faster when they actually give the presentation and get through their deck too quickly. Pace yourself by taking a quick breath between slides. Speak clearly, make eye contact with people, make sure your volume is good, don’t hold the mic too close to your face if you have one. Are you at a podium? If not try not to move around too much, or if you’re like me and can’t sit still try to keep yourself in a certain area. Do NOT just read off the slides, the deck is your guideline NOT the full book. Practice and go though it before hand, it helps!
detectivegibbles
Politicker
0
Sales Director
Love this video. Inflection and confidence goes a long way. Thanks for sharing.

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