Giving a presentation

Usually at companies when you start advancing in your career it will come a point when you are asked to give a presentation...to share your knowledge.

Giving presentations in front of an audience, is a great thing to do...you can learn a lot from that experience.

There are people who are complete naturals when it comes to giving presentations...they are just brilliant ...engaging ...funny....and of course there are some who are not so great at it....some of them are terrified...and try to avoid this experience as much as possible.

I like to think that I am somewhere in the middle...not a natural talent...but also not terrified of the experience...I tend to say I like it....I like the journey....the preparations...and if things go well also the excitement on the faces of the participants...that you managed to deliver the your message...and sometimes give them things to think about...that's the reward.

The company I work for, started organising internal conferences a few years ago...mostly for the staff...as a kind of knowledge share event. These are great opportunities to learn about what others do in your department...or even in other departments...a great chance to talk to others about the experiences...and share your knowledge...your craft...

I usually push myself to present something at these events...I did so at every event...just to extend my barriers...learn and experience new things. This time...for the first time in the history of the conference... I decided to do a live coding session...build something from scratch in front of the audience. Being a first time ...also for me... I think it went decently ... although I did not manage to finish what I planned to do... (lesson learned about that) ...but at least some people seemed to stay interested in the presentation...the room was packed...and they stayed till the end...and even asked questions...so I think the message went through.

Doing live coding in front of an audience is almost like doing peer programming...but with more people looking at your screen...way more people...and on top of that people who don't know the framework you are using...so besides coding you need to explain...a lot...and give context...about why you do things a certain way...

Someone said that at some point...when I was notified by the session chair that time is close to being over...the whole situation was like in the Swordfish movie, when Hugh Jackman is threatened with a gun to finish the work on a laptop..in 60 seconds...(https://youtu.be/mWqGJ613M5Y?t=78)...of course without the motivation factor...if you know what I mean ;).

It was fun...a great experience...and a great opportunity to learn...about myself...

Giving presentations will always teach you something...and I think everyone should do it...from time to time...you will not regret it....and if you have no audience at your disposal...there is always Youtube...do a presentation and record it...just for the sake of doing it.