Off the bench :) , but not going well :(

[SuperZ]

Some good advice already said.

If it wasn`t listed in your job spec or contract you don`t have to do it . If you feel strongly about it, tell the IT Director, and explain your business focus is on providing the service as listed in the origiinal contract specification and contract and that you`ve not had to do a presentation before. Don`t say you won`t do it though, just maybe explain it`s something you`ve not had to do before and you could say it`s not something you like to do (possibly)

It`s not something I`ve done before or would like to do but I would go for it and would probably use a big ice breaker as soon as I started rather than jsut heading off on a professional speech from the start.

FOr some people it just won`t come naturally. It`s a bit like asking a Head of IT to sit down and write a Java Program or something, it doesn`t come naturally to them, as for many techies, public speaking is something they`d rather avoid. I don`t think everyone should be expected to do presentations, but if you have to, at least raise awareness it`s maybe your first time or something you`re not naturally great at. Some will say this is a "no no" but I`d rather be honest about it.

I`m totall fine with doing demo`s to anyone, one to one or small groups, but admit standing up in front of a larger crowd would also give me the screaming willies, but I`d also see it as a challenge I think.

[singhr]

At best this is plain unprofessional and bad advice but more likely just trolling.

Why bother?

pot-kettle-black

[malvolio]

Come off it Mal, there's worse advice given around here. Which bit didn't you like?

You can't refuse to do things you don't like because they aren't specifically mentioned in your job spec. Perhaps a bench-bound coder can but they tend not to be asked to go outside their remit. However, in the OP's case - and mine come to that - imparting information is cetainly in the remit of the role; people are not hiriing in a pair of hands, they're looking to gain something a bit more long term as a result.

Read your contract carefullly. You'll find something in there about knowledge retention and transfer

Also contractor's don't need to take sickies to have a day out. That's permie thinking.

So as I said - 0/10, go away and try again.,

[Platypus]

Some excellent advice so far. Probably the best from NotAllThere, IMO. Doing presentations used to scare the beejesus out of me, but through having to do it, it gets a lot better. Almost easy.

As you're in a contract-to-perm role, I'd say it's very important that you do do the presentation, your future at this company may depend on it. Don't bottle it. That will look terrible for you.

Don't be afraid to ask your manager for guidance, explain that you're a not very experienced presenter, and ask him for an outline agenda. And time allotted. Remember the old "2 (3?) minutes per slide" guideline.

I often open up by saying I'd like the session to be interactive. Ask questions as we go. That way, with audience participation, the time goes much more quickly. You get to drill in to the detail as you go which is always more comfortable for techies. And it distracts attention from you and your presentation.

Although there may be many problems at the place, don't be too negative. Nobody likes a whiner or doom-monger. Try to focus on the positive, don't present a list of why everything's irredeemably broken. Perhaps some "problem statement" slides then some "approach" detail after each one.

I think there's a reasonable chance your manager may like to be used as a "mentor" beforehand - makes him feel good. And ensures that you're "on message".

Final thought - NEVER give out handouts beforehand. The audience just switch off and read ahead. It kills all interactivity, or makes people ask questions out of sequence, e.g. when you're on slide 3, someone says "but on slide 11 you say ...." which is hugely disconcerting. You need to bring the audience along with you, like telling a story, at your pace.

Just my random thoughts, hope some of it helps.

[malvolio]

Agree with all of that, with one caveat. If you're not confident doing presentations, taking questions in flight can put you off your thread. It's better if you can, but safer to ask people to keep them to the end unless they really haven't understood what you just said.

[singhr]

You can't refuse to do things you don't like because they aren't specifically mentioned in your job spec. Perhaps a bench-bound coder can but they tend not to be asked to go outside their remit. However, in the OP's case - and mine come to that - imparting information is cetainly in the remit of the role; people are not hiriing in a pair of hands, they're looking to gain something a bit more long term as a result.

Read your contract carefullly. You'll find something in there about knowledge retention and transfer

Also contractor's don't need to take sickies to have a day out. That's permie thinking.

So as I said - 0/10, go away and try again.,

Sorry Mal, you're coming across all pompous here. It's not all about you, it's about the OP situ in which he says he isn't sleeping/eating well 3 weeks away from the presentation, contractors don't have to put up with that crap.

[northernladuk]

Sorry Mal, you're coming across all pompous here. It's not all about you, it's about the OP situ in which he says he isn't sleeping/eating well 3 weeks away from the presentation, contractors don't have to put up with that crap.

Really? and what would you propose he do? Say no to the client? Hand his notice in? Start arguing about the contract terms? That is all going to help the bad feelin he has already stated exists.

[Hex]

I would recommend doing the presentation in the style of David Brent. You probably won't get asked to do another one.

[SueEllen]

Sorry Mal, you're coming across all pompous here. It's not all about you, it's about the OP situ in which he says he isn't sleeping/eating well 3 weeks away from the presentation, contractors don't have to put up with that crap.

At some point in your life you have to learn to do presentations and they are not all necessarily going to be in a working environment. In this case avoiding the presentation could cost the OP their contract.

So sorry singhr your the one who sounds foolish here.................

[Soled73]

I would recommend doing the presentation in the style of David Brent. You probably won't get asked to do another one.

Not by his manager but he will by his team mates