Advertise on podcast: The Presentation Boss Podcast

Ever presented a chart that made perfect sense to you, only to discover later on that your audience didn't understand it? When you've spent hours analysing data, it's easy to forget that your audience hasn't. What looks obvious to you might require a surprising amount of effort for someone seeing it for the first time. And they probably won't tell you that they don’t understand! In this episode, Kate and Thomas continue exploring the StoryChart process, looking at the three steps that turn a good chart into one that's fast, easy and unmistakable (get ready to hear those three words a lot). Because a good chart is one that does the job it is intended to do and when we’re explaining data, we need to make meaning very clear. What You'll Learn: What does it look like when your audience isn't understanding your charts.How to simplify your charts without losing important context.How to move your chart from describing, to explaining a specific insight.How we can leverage selective attention to direct attentionHow to draw attention to make insights unmistakableAim for clarity rather than complexity or clevernessAlso, listen out for us mentioning 3D exploded pie charts, a gorilla suit, and Where’s Wally! Resources: StoryChart summary sheet and decluttering checklist:Selective attention test (the Gorilla video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2MvoInfluential Analyst Academy: https://www.blueboxdatastorytelling.com.au/iaa/Email us: [email protected] Presentation Boss Podcast: https://www.presentationboss.com.au/podcastKate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytellingThomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

She’s back! Seven years after joining us in season one, voice and speech coach Katrina Roberts returns to challenge some of the conventional quick-wins-based wisdom about becoming a better speaker and presenter. What if trying harder to look confident, remembering to gesture, and concentrating on your speaking technique is actually making you a worse communicator? Katrina shares how being a better speaker starts with comfort before confidence. In this conversation, we explore why nerves show up in ways you might not recognise, why your body has such a powerful influence on your voice, and why learning to be present with your audience matters more than following a checklist of speaking rules. We also get into a fascinating discussion about data storytelling, including why executives sometimes demand all the data, and whether we might have accidentally trained them to do exactly that! What You'll Learn: Why trying too hard to be a good speaker can actually make you less effectiveWhy Katrina teaches freedom and comfort before speaking techniquesHow your body, breathing and voice are connectedA simple exercise involving your feet that can change how you feel and speakWhy being present with your audience is more important than thinking about your own performanceWhy audiences deserve to have information made easy for themHow analysts can accidentally train executives to demand more data Worth Repeating: "The last thing people want when they're battling communication problems is more rules.""Stop trying to be interesting.""Audiences are inherently selfish, and they deserve to be.""Communication is an act of service." About Katrina Roberts: Katrina Roberts is a highly experienced voice and speech coach with over 15 years specialising in professional communicators, including actors, executives and professional speakers. Through Simply Speech, Katrina helps people overcome speaking anxiety, develop their voice and communicate with greater comfort, confidence and presence. She also lectures in voice at JMC Academy in Brisbane and delivers her Speak to Serve program to organisations across Australia. Resources: Simply Speech: https://simplyspeech.com.au/Patsy Rodenburg's Presence.Influential Analyst Academy: https://www.blueboxdatastorytelling.com.au/iaa/Email us: [email protected] Presentation Boss Podcast: https://www.presentationboss.com.au/podcastKate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytellingThomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

We've waited at least seven years to do this presentation breakdown! Hans Rosling is one of the pioneers of data storytelling, and his 2012 TEDx Summit talk "Religion and Babies" is one of our all-time favourites. On paper, this presentation probably shouldn't work. It tackles religion, fertility, population growth, and income. He uses a complex bubble plot with multiple (it must be at least 5) variables, hundreds of data points and even animation. Yet somehow, it's remarkably easy to follow. In this breakdown, Kate and Thomas look at exactly how he pulls it off. From his bold opening and carefully constructed question, to the way he introduces complex data one piece at a time, narrates his visualisations and even turns cardboard boxes into one of our favourite data visualisations ever. And we unpack three key things Rosling does exceptionally well: drip-feeding, using physical data visualisation, and posing a question at the beginning that keeps us invested all the way to the answer. There's a reason we still hold the late Hans Rosling up as one of the greats of data storytelling. What You'll Learn: How to open confidently when tackling a potentially sensitive topicHow to drip-feed complex data without overwhelming your audienceWhy even a complex chart can work when it's explained exceptionally wellWhy you should explain what your data is before explaining what it meansHow posing a question can keep an audience invested in the answerWhy physical data visualisation is so memorableThe value of stripping away unnecessary precision and using rounded numbersHow to finish with a clear recommendation for what your audience should do next Our Rating: 11/10 from Kate. 10/10 from Thomas. Apparently our rating scale no longer has rules. Watch It Yourself: Hans Rosling - Religions and babies: https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_religions_and_babies Resources: Influential Analyst Academy: https://www.blueboxdatastorytelling.com.au/iaa/Email us: [email protected] Presentation Boss Podcast: https://www.presentationboss.com.au/podcastKate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytellingThomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

There are loads of graph types available. But which to use? Which actually help you explain an insight clearly to an audience? In this episode, Kate and Thomas look at the graph types that are particularly good for explaining data, along with some of the common alternatives we frequently see that aren't always best suited to the job. It’s first step of the StoryChart process: Choose Your Chart. Rather than relying on rules like "bar charts are good" or "pie charts are bad", we start with a more useful question: what job does this chart need to do? That often means choosing something much simpler than you might expect. And this really is one of our favourite topics to talk about. And for those watching, we have visual props from our corporate workshops! What You'll Learn: • What makes a good chart – rules, criteria and purpose. • The difference between graphs used to explore data and those used to explain an insight. • The three tests for a good explain chart. • The big debate – are pie charts good or bad? • Why many charts can make an audience work too hard and make them tune out. • Why a technically accurate chart can still be a poor communication tool • Why clarity should win over complexity and cleverness • Exactly which charts to aim for when creating your data story! Download the Summary Sheet: We've put together a summary of the graph types discussed in this episode, including which ones to use when explaining your data, and when and why to use them. Resources: • Influential Analyst Academy: https://www.blueboxdatastorytelling.com.au/iaa/ • Email us: [email protected] • The Presentation Boss Podcast: https://www.presentationboss.com.au/podcast • Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling • Thomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

In this expert guest episode, we're joined by Rob McDonald, better known as Safety Rob! We talk about what happens when safety decisions become disconnected from the people actually doing the work. Rob has spent decades in workplace health and safety, including experiencing serious incidents himself, and argues that effective safety communication starts by getting away from the desk, asking better questions and listening to the people closest to the risk. We explore why lagging indicators and traditional KPIs can give decision-makers an incomplete picture, why toolbox talks aren't necessarily communication, and what needs to happen for important information to make its way from the frontline to the boardroom. Because the role isn’t done until somebody does something with what you told them. What You'll Learn: Why reporting what has already gone wrong isn't enough to prevent what happens nextWhy managing from your desktop gives you an incomplete picture of the businessWhat genuine two-way communication looks likeWhy a toolbox talk can easily become one-way communicationWhy important safety information can get lost on its way to decision-makersHow photos, videos and frontline stories can make risks real for senior leadersWhy asking people about problems without acting on what they tell you can undermine the whole process Worth Repeating: “If you're just reporting KPIs and traffic lights on that and how many injuries we've had, you're not getting decisions to the decision-makers.” “I need a report process that says, ‘I'm dealing with this every day. I've talked to my team and through consultation, they've told me this, and we have these risks identified.’” “Take a photo of your highest risks. Actually get people just to video or say, or go and talk to people and ask them, ‘What is it you need? What is it you do that we shouldn't be doing? What is it that can be improved?’” “The problem with a lagging indicator is we're measuring ourselves against something that has already happened.” About Rob McDonald: Rob McDonald is the Owner and Managing Director of GSD Safety, with more than 25 years' experience as a workplace health and safety consultant. Through GSD Safety, Rob works with organisations to improve their safety management systems, protect their people and better understand the risks happening inside their businesses. Resources: GSD Safety: https://gsdsafety.com.au/SafeAlign: https://safealign.com.au/Influential Analyst Academy: https://www.blueboxdatastorytelling.com.au/iaa/Email us: [email protected] Presentation Boss Podcast: https://www.presentationboss.com.au/podcastKate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytellingThomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

In this breakdown, Kate and Thomas watch Ben Wellington's TEDx talk from 2014. It's a brilliant example of data storytelling in action, with Ben consistently giving his audience a reason to care before revealing the detail behind the data. The talk explores what happens when you give a curious data person access to thousands of datasets about New York City. But also looks at the challenge of data accessibility. A gripping series of stories where creating access to data and curiosity about meaning leads to outcomes for the city. We break down his clever structure, simple visualisations and knack for answering the "so what?" before his audience has to ask. What You'll Learn: • Why you don't always need to start with the background and context • How Ben creates interest before revealing the detail behind his data • The value of rounding numbers when precision doesn't matter • How to pull simple, memorable takeaways from complex data • Why answering "so what?" makes data immediately more engaging • How to raise the stakes as a presentation progresses • Why even excellent visualisations sometimes need more time on screen • The impact speaking pace and pauses have on an audience's ability to process information Our Rating: 8/10 from both Kate and Thomas. Watch It Yourself: https://www.ted.com/talks/ben_wellington_how_we_found_the_worst_place_to_park_in_new_york_city_using_big_data Resources: • Influential Analyst Academy: https://www.blueboxdatastorytelling.com.au/iaa/ • Email us: [email protected] • The Presentation Boss Podcast: presentationboss.com.au/podcast • Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling • Thomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

You've analysed the data. You've built the charts. You've put them in front of your audience. So why aren't they getting it? In this episode, we explore the Data Journey, a simple way of understanding what needs to happen between raw information and an audience. We unpack the important distinction between exploring data to understand it yourself, and explaining it so somebody else can understand it. And why confusing those two legs causes so many problems. Also, diagnose the three broken data journeys we see regularly: the Data Decorator, the Data Dumper and the Data Cameo. From dashboards packed with charts but no insight, analysis that seems obvious only because you've stared at it for days, to starting with the conclusion and hunting for evidence afterwards, we look at why each happens and the questions you can ask to avoid them. What You'll Learn: The difference between exploring data and explaining itWhere data storytelling actually fits in the journey from information to audienceWhy visualising data isn't the same as communicating an insightHow to recognise when you've become a Data DecoratorWhy the curse of knowledge turns good analysts into Data DumpersHow expecting your audience to interpret your charts can make them feel like they're "not a numbers person"The dangerous difference between testing a hypothesis and proving a conclusionHow to recognise when you're using data to confirm the story you already wanted to tellPractical questions to diagnose where your own data journey might be broken Resources and Links: Effective Data Storytelling by Brent DykesInfluential Analyst Academy: https://www.blueboxdatastorytelling.com.au/iaa/Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])The Presentation Boss Podcast: presentationboss.com.au/podcastKate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytellingThomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

It’s an easy trap to fall into. When you know your topic, and trying to explain that to someone who doesn’t. How do you do it without making them feel silly, overwhelmed or condescended to? This week we're joined by Nicky Jurd; digital strategist, business owner, self-described friendly and approachable geek, and quite possibly one of the nicest humans we know. We talk about patience, jargon, audience interaction and building trust. Nicky shares practical ways to recognise when you've lost someone, why you should never take over someone's mouse, and the seemingly harmless words that can accidentally make your audience feel stupid. We also wander into AI slop, $68 coffee, Simon Lancaster and, nudie swimming under waterfalls. What You'll Learn: How to explain complex ideas simply without becoming condescendingWhy patience is a learned communication skill, even for expertsHow to recognise when your audience doesn't understand, even if they're nodding alongThe power of starting with foundations and building knowledgeHow asking the wrong kind of audience question can make people feel stupidHow even simple jargon can sneak into our language and cause damageHow trust comes from more than simply demonstrating expertise The important AI literacy skill that will make the biggest difference into the future Worth Repeating: "My mum taught me how to use a spoon.""I try to be clear rather than condescending.""We're giving a service that is complicated and technical, and if people knew it, they would never get to meet us.""Just usually means the speaker's forgotten what it was like to not know.""Confusion shouldn't be a character flaw. Confusion is an opportunity for me to empower someone and help them feel capable." Resources and Links: Nicky Jurd: nickyjurd.comPrecedence: precedence.com.auWinning Minds: Secrets from the Language of Leadership by Simon LancasterEmail us: [email protected] Presentation Boss Podcast: presentationboss.com.au/podcastThe Influential Analyst Academy: https://www.skool.com/influential-analyst-academy-5985/aboutKate on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/data-storytellingThomas on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

Get your favourite flag ready as we break down one of Thomas' all-time favourite TED Talks. We're watching "Roman Mars: Why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you've never noticed". And yes, it's a talk about flags. But it's also a masterclass in taking a topic your audience doesn't think they care about and making it fascinating. Kate was cautious to begin with, but by the end, gave it a perfect 10/10 rating! Roman Mars combines storytelling, humour, visuals, audio clips, and careful choreography to showcase mastery in multimedia presentations. Thomas has loved this talk for a decade and Kate had somehow managed to avoid watching it until this week. We analyse exactly what works, spot minor slip-ups, and even discuss what happened in the years since this talk. What You'll Learn: How to make an audience care about a topic they weren't expecting to care aboutWhy teaching your audience a simple framework can change how they see everything that followsHow humour can emerge naturally from setting up and then breaking expectationsHow to successfully manage audio, visuals and multiple voices in a live presentationWhy explaining an unusual presentation format upfront helps an audience settle into itThe six key principles of flag design (trust us, you do actually care about these!)What to do when something goes wrong in a highly choreographed presentationWhy a strong message can inspire action long after the presentation is over Our Ratings: Thomas: 9.9/10 Kate: 10/10 Watch It Yourself: Roman Mars: Why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you've never noticed https://www.ted.com/talks/roman_mars_why_city_flags_may_be_the_worst_designed_thing_you_ve_never_noticed Resources and Links: 99% Invisible: https://99percentinvisible.org/Good Flag, Bad Flag: https://nava.org/good-flag-bad-flagEmail us: [email protected] Presentation Boss Podcast: presentationboss.com.au/podcastKate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytellingThomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

Too many presentations begin by opening PowerPoint, or thinking about the most interesting pieces of information. And that’s exactly the wrong place to start if you want to be influential. It's possible to have great data, solid analysis and polished slides, then finish your presentation with "thanks, that was interesting" and watch absolutely nothing happen. In this episode, Kate and Thomas unpack the Data Storytelling Success Model (The Triangle) that works for all workplace communications and technical presentations. It’s the framework we use with organisations across industries, functions and all over the world to turn informed experts into influential communicators. It's the framework we use to diagnose why workplace presentations fail to influence and where technical communicators should focus to improve them. We explain the six essential elements that sit behind every effective presentation. If you've ever wondered why some presentations lead to action while others are quickly forgotten, this episode will share with you the essential pieces of preparation you need. What You'll Learn: The common mistake of building presentations for ourselves instead of our audienceHow to identify the one audience member who matters most.The "Sticky Note Message" technique for creating clear communication.Why insight and narrative matter more than simply sharing information.The three questions every presentation should answer.How better visuals reduce confusion and increase decision-making.How "death by dashboard" has joined “death by PowerPoint”.Why delivery is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to influential presentations.How to identify the weakest link in your own workplace communication. Resources and Links: See the Triangle: Email us: [email protected] Presentation Boss Podcast: presentationboss.com.au/podcastKate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytellingThomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

Can great communication be worth millions to a business? Today's guest thinks so, and explains why the future belongs to technical experts who can influence, not just inform. It's our first expert interview of the season; we're joined by Andrew Jepson, finance business partnering specialist, Chartered Accountant, and author of "Compliance to Commercial". We explore why technical expertise alone isn't enough, how communication creates influence, and why AI will make human communication skills even more valuable. Whether you work in finance, analytics, engineering, or any technical profession, this episode is packed with practical ideas for becoming someone whose advice actually shapes decisions. What You'll Learn: • Why technical expertise alone won't make you influential • The habit that separates report producers from trusted advisors • How to simplify complex information without losing accuracy • Why asking better questions is often more powerful than having better answers • The "tree trunk and branches" framework for avoiding unnecessary detail • How AI is changing technical roles, and why communication will become even more valuable About Our Guest: Andrew Jepson is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years of commercial experience across finance and operational leadership roles. After seeing technically brilliant finance teams struggle to influence business decisions, he founded FBP Team in 2016 to help finance professionals develop the communication, influencing, and business partnering skills that create real commercial impact. Memorable Moments: • "Get away from your desk and go talk to people." • "Once the robots arrive, the only thing left will be business partnering." • "You don't need to know the answers. You just need to know the questions." • "Once you can't see the trunk anymore, cut it back." • "The AI will do the cave work." Resources and Links: • Andrew Jepson: https://financebusinesspartnering.com • Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjepson • "Compliance to Commercial: The Quiet Approach to Finance Business Partnering" • "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey" • "What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith" Presentation Boss Resources: • Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) • The Presentation Boss Podcast: presentationboss.com.au/podcast • Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling • Thomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

In this episode we're doing a presentation breakdown - just like we used to do speech breakdowns, but now we can also SHOW you the talk as we watch, and provide our thoughts and highlight techniques as we watch real time. We're watching a classic talk that we came across over a decade ago, and as data nerds who like a laugh, we both enjoyed this display of entertaining data storytelling. It's a TED-x Talk from 2013, presented to a smaller crowd and tackles how data analysis tied into online dating. What You'll Learn: • The power of starting in the action of a story • How providing a single, simple example is more powerful • The combination of data and storytelling • When it comes to visuals, how much detail is too much, and how to dripfeed • The subtle art of breadcrumbing a motif detail through a presentation. Watch It Yourself: Amy Webb: How I Hacked Online Dating - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wG_sAdP0U Resources and Links: • Email us: [email protected] • The Presentation Boss Podcast: presentationboss.com.au/podcast • Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling • Thomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

After a five-year hiatus (that was only ever meant to be a short break), The Presentation Boss Podcast is back. You can now also watch us as a video podcast, or listen along in the classic audio-only format! In this episode, Kate and Thomas are hanging out and explain where we've been, what has changed in the world of workplace communication, and why these skills matter more than ever in the age of AI. We share how our business evolved to focus on helping technical professionals communicate ideas that influence decisions, and what you can expect from Season 2. Good news! We're going to continue our format rotation of discussion episodes, presentation breakdowns, and expert interviews. But now with several years, thousands of clients, and updated practical, actionable communication advice at the heart of every episode. Resources and Links: Email us: [email protected] Presentation Boss Podcast: presentationboss.com.au/podcastKate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytellingThomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-storytelling-au

Celebrate episode one-hundred of The Presentation Boss Podcast! We've made it, folks, all the way to our goal of 100 weekly episodes of our podcast. A commitment to sharing the best skills, speeches and experts with you for nearly two years. And in this triple-digit episode, we are bringing some flair, ninja skills and hidden features of PowerPoint that will impress your audience (without distracting from your effective preparation). Thomas spends a fair amount of time staying up-to-date with PowerPoint and finds a use for features that most don't even know about. This episode is best listened to if you can play along with PowerPoint in front of you while we walk you through seven secret PowerPoint tools that will make your presentation look creative, professional and have your audience asking you how you did that! 100th Episode Celebration Details:Kate and Thomas will be inviting the guests from the show and having a little gathering in Brisbane. We understand travel is hard, but if you're a listener from Brisbane, we'd love to meet you. Lock into your calendar the evening of 9 April. Join us for a drink in the beer garden of The Plough Inn, Southbank between 5:00pm and 7:00pm. In This Episode:• Kate and Thomas briefly discuss our milestone of reaching the centenary of episodes• The best transition available that is under-used and makes slides not look like slides• Where to natively find a massive resource of stock icons, photos and unconventional shapes• How PowerPoint is implementing features from Canva, Google Slides and Prezi• Adding and using 3D models to your slides• The internal AI that will build your slides for you - in one click! Resources and Links • Email us: [email protected]• The Presentation Boss Podcast: https://presentationboss.com.au/podcast/• Show your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/presentationboss• Join our online community: Presentation Bosses Facebook Group• Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-norris/• Thomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-krafft/• Presentation Boss on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/presentationboss/

It's the last of the double-digits here on episode ninety-nine of the Presentation Boss Podcast! This week we had a conversation with an expert from New Zealand on presentation skills, audience engagement and facilitation. He reached out to us after listening to the show, promising he had something to offer. And Johnny Quinn, the presentologist has loads to offer. As it turns out, this conversation made immediate change to how Kate and Thomas present their workshops and masterclasses. We cover a lot of ground in this show, delving deep into not just why audience engagement is important, but what it means, and some actual tools to achieve it. Plus, how this translates to the online medium, and some techniques around the use of PowerPoint. It really tickles all our favourites! Show your support for this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/presentationboss About Our GuestRaised and educated in Ireland, Johnny Quinn arrived in Dubai in 1996 determined to make the difference between presentations that fell flat, and those that sealed the deal. After several years with Philips Middle East he started AudienceAlive Dubai, and then in 2015, expanded the operation to beautiful Queenstown, New Zealand. In 2015, Johnny added audiencealive.com to his worldwide portfolio and expanded his business to cover Australia and NZ. He understands you don't get a second chance to make a first impression, so wants your presentation to realise its full potential. Since 2001, Johnny has provided custom presentation services for over 500 local and international clients resulting in over 25 000 slides and too many bullet points to count! Johnny's creativity and professional design experience will result in an effective presentation with impact. What You'll Learn:• What does 'audience engagement mean' and how to tell if you have it• The techniques you can use to engage your audience and build interaction• How to check you have your audience listening if your presenting online• How we can use 'the wisdom of the room' to work smarter, and improve learning outcomes• That one thing about PowerPoint, that if everyone knew, would do Johnny out of a job• The biggest mistakes people make when it comes to presenting data and slides• Some of the tools to build interaction into online meetings Mentioned In The Show:• Johnny Quinn's Website AudienceAlive.com• James Surowiecki | The Wisdom of Crowds• Presentology and Audience Engagement Solutions Download• The Ultimate PowerPoint Guide Download Continue the Conversation:• Email us: [email protected]• The Presentation Boss Podcast: https://presentationboss.com.au/podcast/• Show your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/presentationboss• Join our online community: Presentation Bosses Facebook Group• Kate on LinkedIn: