Before & After

Prepare Beforehand

While preparing a presentation, you have the opportunity to consider

Reflect Afterward

After each presentation take the time to reflect on the Q&A session. After each presentation, take notes in a small journal about:

  1. The questions
  • What questions were asked, and by whom?
  • Did you anticipate these questions? If not, why?
  • Which were the most interesting and/or relevant?
If you expect that you’ll forget them, have a trusted colleague write them down for you — and return the favor when they present!
  1. Your answers
  • Were they adequate? were they and were they Were they adequate? Did any no you think
  1. The Outcome
  • Did any new ideas occur to you?
  • Are there potential collaborators that you should contact?
  • Were clear decisions made about how you should approach specific hurdles in your work?

Use this journal to better prepare for your next presentation.[But remember, just because you remember what happened during your last presentation, it’s unlikely that anybody else will! Don’t make explicit reference to previous Q&A sessions unless it was particularly memorable. This is just for you to review your own progress.]