Summarized by Vinit Joshi

* This blog originally appeared on Northstar Meetings Group on September 4, 2025: Help Technical Speakers Deliver Better Presentations. It was written by Neil Thompson, founder of Teach the Geek. An engineer by training, he works with technical professionals so they can present more effectively, especially in front of non-technical audiences. Learn more about Teach the Geek at teachthegeek.com.

Introduction

Technical experts are often selected as speakers because they know their subject matter deeply. Yet, that expertise doesn’t always guarantee an effective presentation for an audience that may vary in background and knowledge. For organizers of engineering and management events, such as ASEM, it is important to help technical speakers present their material in a way that is engaging, understandable, and memorable.

With thoughtful preparation, coaching, and support, technical speakers can deliver talks that not only showcase their expertise but also resonate with the entire audience.

Before the Event

Choose and guide speakers carefully: Planners should ask for presentation outlines and draft slides early. Reviewing this material allows you to confirm that the content fits the audience’s needs and gives you time to suggest changes if the session seems too technical or narrowly focused. Encourage speakers to concentrate on two or three key points instead of trying to cover too much information in limited time.

Provide tools and resources: The American Society for Engineering Management provides speaker guidelines including practical tips. Remember to use fewer words on slides, rely on visuals instead of text-heavy tables, avoid jargon, and limit distracting animations. These guidelines can go a long way toward making technical material more accessible.

Set checkpoints and deadlines: Establish a timeline that requires draft slides several weeks in advance. This gives you time to provide feedback and suggest improvements. We encourage speakers to rehearse either by sending a recorded run-through or participating in a live rehearsal; so you can catch pacing and clarity issues before the actual event.

Coaching and Preparation

Build a logical story: Encourage speakers to organize their talks into a clear narrative arc: start with context, outline the challenge, describe the method or approach, share the results, and close with key takeaways. Using transitions and signposting (“first…next…finally”) helps the audience follow along, even with highly technical material.

Simplify complex content: Ask presenters to identify the two or three most important ideas they want attendees to remember. For complicated models or data, suggest introducing them gradually — perhaps beginning with a simplified version or analogy before presenting the full details. Where jargon is unavoidable, encourage a brief background or explanation slide to level the field for everyone in the audience.

Improve visuals: Data-heavy tables can be difficult for an audience to process quickly. Recommend converting them into charts or graphics, and highlight key points with arrows or color callouts. Keep slides clean and uncluttered so the audience can focus on the most important information.

Polish the delivery: Encourage speakers to practice aloud to refine their timing, pacing, and transitions. Remind them to speak clearly, vary their tone, and use natural body language and eye contact. Pauses between key points allow the audience time to absorb the material. Stress the importance of finishing on time and reserving space for audience questions.

During the Event

Test technology and logistics: Schedule AV checks to confirm microphones, projectors, slide clickers, and other equipment are working properly. Have backup copies of presentations stored on a USB drive or in the cloud, and ensure AV staff are available to troubleshoot if needed.

Support speaker confidence: Offer a quiet space where presenters can gather themselves before going on stage. Recommend they do a short vocal or breathing warm-up. Suggest pausing briefly after slide changes so the audience has a moment to adjust to new visuals.

Encourage audience engagement: Speakers can use simple techniques like rhetorical questions, short pauses for reflection, or brief polls to involve the audience. Moderators play an important role by introducing the talk with context, bridging transitions between sessions, and rephrasing overly technical questions during Q&A.

Be prepared behind the scenes: Keep extra adapters, clickers, and cables ready. Assign staff to monitor the room for sound, lighting, or visibility issues. Provide time cues to help speakers stay on track and ensure sessions run smoothly.

After the Event

Collect audience feedback: Include evaluation questions focused on clarity, pacing, and effectiveness of visuals. This feedback can provide valuable insights for both planners and speakers. Encourage presenters to reflect on what worked well in their session and what could be improved next time.

Share best practices: Gather strong examples of slides or sessions and use them as references for future presenters. Share lessons learned, and if possible, create a repository of tips and templates to help raise the overall standard of technical presentations at future events.

Final Thoughts

Technical speakers bring tremendous value to professional gatherings, but they often need guidance to ensure their expertise connects with a diverse audience. By offering clear guidelines, coaching, and practical support before, during, and after an event, organizations can help technical presenters deliver talks that are both accurate and engaging. This approach not only benefits attendees but also enhances the reputation and impact of the event itself.

About the Contributor

Vinit Joshi recently earned his Master of Science in Engineering Management from Northeastern University with a 4.0 GPA and was inducted into Northeastern's Laurel & Scroll 100, which recognizes exceptional graduate and professional students across the university’s global campuses. He began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering before shifting his focus to engineering management and process improvement. An active member of the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM), Vinit represented Northeastern at the ASEM International Student Case Study Competition, earning 3rd place in 2024, and served as Secretary for Northeastern’s ASEM chapter. Certified in Agile, Six Sigma, and Tableau, Vinit is passionate about project management, operations, and continuous improvement, and enjoys collaborating across disciplines to create impactful, data-informed solutions.

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