The Callback: Your Secret Weapon
Neil Thompson
Teacher of Geeks | Inc. Magazine contributor | Children's book author | Speaker | Podcaster | Engineer | Check out my Featured Section for Insights on Giving Technical Presentations
Eileen Velez-Vega, PE has had quite the career thus far, having worked in industry and government. She even did a NASA internship. Check the interview out to find out more about Eileen's journey. I'm curious to see what she does next!
I wrote a piece for UrbanGeekz about the benefits of being a podcast host as a technical professional. Check it out HERE.
PUBLIC SPEAKING TIP
A callback is a powerful public speaking technique that can make your technical presentation more engaging and cohesive. It involves referencing something you mentioned earlier in your presentation to create a sense of continuity or to reinforce a key point.
Here’s how to effectively use a callback in a technical presentation:
1. Set up a foundational idea early: Introduce a concept, analogy, or story at the beginning of your presentation. For example, if you’re explaining data security, you might compare it to locking the doors and windows of your house to protect valuables.
2. Tie back to it later: When discussing a complex topic later in the presentation, reference your earlier analogy. For instance, you might say, “Remember how we talked about locking the doors and windows? Think of encryption as the deadbolt—it’s an added layer of security.”
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3. Use callbacks to build momentum: Callbacks don’t just clarify points; they can also create humor or deepen understanding. If you told a lighthearted story to explain a concept earlier, revisiting it can re-engage your audience and make the topic feel less intimidating.
4. Reinforce your key message: Callbacks work especially well in your conclusion. Revisiting your earlier analogy or story helps to emphasize your main takeaway, giving the audience a clear and memorable way to retain the information.
By using callbacks strategically, you help your audience connect the dots, making even the most technical content feel more accessible and memorable.
Know organizations that'd be interested in learning more about how Teach the Geek can be of use to them (developing speaker training programs for technical staff)? If so, let's chat!
All for now!
-Neil