How do you select the best samples for your presentation development portfolio?

-Relevance: Ensure the samples align with your target audience and career goals. -Diversity: Showcase a variety of presentation types (e.g., persuasive, informative, persuasive). -Impact: Highlight projects that demonstrate significant results or outcomes. -Complexity: Include samples that showcase your ability to handle complex topics or challenges. -Visual Appeal: Choose presentations with visually engaging elements and effective storytelling. - Client Testimonials: Include positive feedback or case studies to validate your skills. -Technical Proficiency: Demonstrate your mastery of presentation tools and techniques.

When building your presentation development portfolio, it's important to go beyond just knowing your audience. Reflect on your unique journey and the milestones that shaped your expertise. Choose samples that showcase your skills and growth as a facilitator and speaker. Include a presentation that marked a significant turning point in your style or methodology. This approach resonates with clients who value depth and authenticity in partnerships. Remember, your portfolio should align with the needs and aspirations of your audience.

I find that selecting samples that resonate with your viewer is more important than styles that show off your personal brand. This was why branding, color choices and examples should also match your audience. Similar to knowing your audience, tailor the style to them as well. If you are talking to a room full of engineers, a quote from a renowned engineer will go further than someone for the textiles industry. As for your personal style and brand, you will be known as adaptable. Someone that can make the work relevant in any space. I do have a group of set pieces that are part of my brand, like this reoocuring chart that ends up in all of my presentations. It great to have some signature set pieces that you are a pro at speaking to.

I find that one great sample trumps 10 good ones. Less is more. Each sample should have a separate purpose. Try to avoid explaining the same thing multiple ways. Ask yourself "did I cover this" if you find the need for multiple sampled to cover the same topic it's likely you've found good samples not GREAT ones! My rule is 1 sample per topic, combine and consolidate when possible. Don't choose a sample because it's cool or interactive, choose it because it increases the viewers comprehension. Nothing is worst that ruining a beautiful looking presentation with whispers and mumbles about how nice it looks but how little we know.

A pictures worth a 1000 words, that doesn't apply here. The last thing you want is for your audience to make assumptions and connections that you didnt intend. This is why you want to add context to each of your samples. "This sample demonstrates ABC. Therefore, the impact is XYZ. Thus, you has a viewer should care"

When selecting the best samples for my presentation development portfolio, I draw from my 250-slide presentation filled with examples. This portfolio continuously evolves as I give numerous lectures, allowing me to add new examples and adjust or remove old ones based on audience reactions. By observing which examples resonate most, I ensure that my presentations remain relevant and impactful. This iterative process helps me refine my content, focusing on samples that effectively engage and inform my audience. Constantly updating my portfolio ensures that I always have the best and most compelling examples to draw from for any presentation.