The Big Leagues (Corporate)

[Asher]

So every quarter, we have a 1-hour "area meeting" with our group at the Software Lab. For my group (compilation technology), that's roughly 500 people. It takes place in a large amphitheatre and attendance is more-or-less mandatory.

I'm part of what's called a service team, meaning we interface with big-name customers...troubleshooting their code or our code, depending where the problem lies. Due to the nature of this work, we occasionally have lots of freetime, and occasionally have not enough time. Because during the "slow" periods we had ample free time, my manager has taken a Google-like approach, where you can use your spare time not dealing with customer issues to experiment with your own compiler-related projects.

Since I'm not a full employee yet, only a mere intern, I immediatelly flagged this as a huge opportunity for me to make a name for myself, to insure I'm part of the 70% that get hired back after I graduate in 2006 (for EPIC (Employment Pathways for Interns and Coop) students).

I looked at the databases we have for past customer issues, and I started pulling data from them to correlate trends and common issues that are eating up a lot of our time. Armed with that, I wrote up some proposals I have for reducing our workload with those kinds of issues -- structural changes we can make to the products to make product migrations and upgrades easier, for instance.

I presented these to my team a while ago, and it was received very well. It's gone through some refinements, with additional input from my teammates.

So: My manager today came by and asked if I could talk for about 5 minutes about my work on it and my proposals at the area meeting on Monday. Of course, I said yes...

But now it's sinking in on me. I'm going to be talking about making some changes to a product all of these guys have designed and worked on, some for decades even. There are many people with PhDs in the room, many IBM Fellows, many levels of management...

Not only am I going to have to give a presentation to a huge number of people (I've only done about 30 people before, but I was fine with it...I basically focus on a few people in different areas of the room and pretend to be only talking to them), but it's going to be to a bunch of people with way more experience than me, and treat their products like "their baby".

My manager has assured me that the suggestions are excellent and very sound, and they actually wouldn't be difficult to do. He thinks they'll be well received, in the interest of reducing our support costs and increasing customer satisfaction.

But the problem is I don't want to look like a friggin' idiot when I get up on that stage with that fancy wireless PowerPoint clicker thing and a sea of people clacking away on their ThinkPads.

So, I know a lot of people here are seasoned public speakers...and a lot of people here have lots of corporate experience...what the hell can I do to refrain from looking like an incompetent idiot, given that I've never done something like this before?

[Ted Striker]

The fact that you have already recognized the level of these people, and the amount of work they have put into these products, you will be okay. Nobody can stand the pretensious new guy who thinks he knows it all comes in and tells everyone how they screwed up or how they are incompetent. But that doesn't even sound close to your case, so you're input will not only be accepted, it will be encouraged, welcomed, and most likely expected.

They will most likely see you as a new guy who is looking at an entrenched business process(es) with a fresh perspective. That you are an intern, also makes you nonthreatening to them because you don't have a history with these people so they would most likely view you as friendly.

So, in that case, it's just like when you have been staring at code for an hour, and need "a second pair of eyes" to doublecheck it for you.


You'll be okay, especially since your manager and your team have your back. Just be yourself.

[Ted Striker]

Also, another reason your idea will be welcomed, is because it sounds like you have done alot of dirty work that nobody else has had time to do because they are busy doing their jobs.

(Running reports and identifying correlations and trends out of them).

That is extremley helpful for anyone trying to get a big picture of what's going. You will be making everyone's lives easier and reducing costs for your company, which means more $$$ and less headaches for everybody.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
They will most likely see you as a new guy who is looking at an entrenched business process(es) with a fresh perspective.

This is a huge part of it from my perspective. The compilers themselves are very old products (IBM Fortran is the oldest compiler in the world ), and a lot of how they were developed...haven't aged very well. They work fine, but a lot of the componentization just doesn't make sense, it's a relic of a time when IBM was huge on the geographical fiefdoms, so different countries worked on different parts of the compiler and refused to let them go for fear of job losses. Lou Gerstner fixed all that and consolidated it all to Toronto, but it's still not a very optimal structure...

That you are an intern, also makes you nonthreatening to them because you don't have a history with these people so they would most likely view you as friendly.

As far as they know, I'm not an intern. The only people who know I am an intern are my teammates (and possibly management if they did some research), otherwise I am indistinguishable. It's part of the program to "integrate" you with the company as a standard new hire, and they want people to treat you as such.

And I hope they view me as friendly -- I'm very tempted to buy a Maple Leafs jersey just to keep them happy.

You'll be okay, especially since your manager and your team have your back. Just be yourself.

Thanks Derek

[Ted Striker]

Honestly, if I was one of the people in that room, and had read your first post, I would be very EAGER to hear what it is you have to say, you came at it from the right perspective and it was well thought out, and the attitude was definitley in the right place.

[Whoha]

to get used to it you have to do it alot. practice. Public speaking is tough on people, that is normal. I'd suggest tape yourself giving a presentation, look at what kinds of behavior you are doing inadvertantly(saying words, hand movements) and conciously attempt to reign it in and not do it.

[DanS]

I guess everybody is different, but I've found that practicing it out helps very much. Just keep practicing it out until you know that you will say what you want to say. No time spent is too much time spent.

[Nostromo]

I don't know if you're a natural when it comes to speaking in public, I know I certainly am not.

- A good trick to break the ice is to come 15-20 minutes in advance and have a casual conversation with some of the people who will be attending. It works well in class setting. I don't know if it will be possible in your context, though.

- Don't read. Write what you have to say. Then reduce these notes to a brief outline on index cards.

- Practice, practice, practice.

- For Gods sake, don't pull a Balmer!!!

For what it's worth, here are some tips for teachers:

Here

[Asher]

I'll practice, of course. A lot.

It'll only be 5 minutes, and I know what to say. I'm not going to be taking any notes up with me, I could always glance up to the screen (someone else has thankfully prepared slides for me) to jog my memory. But since I've been working on it for months, I think the biggest challenge will be making sure I don't talk about it for too long.

It's hard to get me to shut up sometimes.

---

I've noticed that for every executive I've heard speak, including Steve Mills (VP,, head of Software Group), they all open up with a joke. When it's a visiting speaker, it'll be a local joke -- in Mills' case, it was about the Maple Leafs.

It's gotten to the point where you can successfully predict what kind of jokes they'll make -- it's usually a mild self-deprecating joke if it's a "local" executive, or a local joke if it's a visiting exec...

Is opening with a joke of some kind too cliche? I'm hesitant to do it, because it's always so transparant and almost obligatory to me, it would feel too contrived...

[Japher]

You'll do fine, as Ted already said.

You know what you know and that is what they will hire you back for. Your boss knows it, you know it, just realize it... You are the man.

Just stay confident and you will be fine. Take critizism with a gain of salt, expect it, react to it, but don't bash it.

If someone says something you disagree with, feel free to argue it, but don't offend, but do argue...

Show that you KNOW what the hell you are talking about... like you do here everyday and you'll be fine

good luck Asher.

[-Jrabbit]

(-Jrabbit wonders about the wisdom of telling Asher to be himself...)
Just kidding, Asher...

With your self-confidence born of knowledge, I'm very confident you'll acquit yourself well. The advice posted above has you pointed down the right path, and you will do better if you're in your own persona.

I have a couple small bits to contribute.

Open with a joke? Not necessary for a 5-minute piece. You want to make efficient use of everyone's time. (There's nothing wrong with breaking the ice, either, but be sure you don't offend. If you want to go that route, the end of the NHL season would be topical...)

If you get a chance, show up early and check out the stage. Stand behind the podium. If the sound system is on, check it out -- many are taken aback by hearing the sound of their own voice through a PA for the first time. Also -- Know where you enter and exit. Little things like this help you feel like you're in control.

Before launching into your speech, thank the person who introduces you. (It's actually a little trick to help you settle down.)

I would suggest opening with the "humility ploy." By that I mean, state upfront that you're relatively new and thus may have a different perspective, which you've been asked to share with the group. Sets the stage in a non-threatening way. After that, you are free to state your case with confidence.

One thing that's very common to younger or less experienced speakers is to speak too quickly, which can make it difficult to be understood. So don't try to cram too much material into your 5 minutes. A slower pace will make your point more easily understood.

Another common experience is a bit of adrenaline spiking when you start. I've actually had my leg start shaking. This can make you sound shaky, so don't be afraid to step back and take a slow, deep breath to calm yourself. Having a glass of water up there is also smart -- hard to speak well through cotton-mouth.

You also might want to check with your boss re: whether you're to simply report facts, or actively advocate a position. In the former, you're presenting an outline, in the latter, you're drawing a conclusion. Informing vs. challenging. They're very different, and your boss will know what is customary, and what will make you (and him!) look good.

One more thing -- Don't just practice the speech to yourself. Practice in front of someone and get feedback. It takes a third party to reliably tell you if you're too quiet, if you're rushing, etc.

Last item -- Remember not to out yourself in front of a large group. (OK, another little joke there... )

Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.

[Proteus_MST]

I think do like nostromo said:
Write the things down you want to say,
maybe even with small cards which include catchwords about important things in your speech.
practice the speech, for example before friends (and, if you have a fixed duration for the speech, include a clock )

And think in advance,
i.e. try to foresee what questions other people could have and try to find the answers way before the speech, as it is a much better time to find these answers (arguments) in advance, instead of finding then when you stand before the audience (and probably are nervous)

[Hot Mustard]

Sounds like you're already well on your way to a kick@ss 5 minute speech. (content, perspective, support, practice, etc)

I will second the notion that you do not need a joke. Higher-ups do them to make themselves seems like "everybody's" buddy. Kind of a "I'm just like you." Not applicable in your case.

[JohnT]

Asher, you'll do fine.

This bit of Japher's advice is probably the most important thing to keep in mind:

I would suggest opening with the "humility ploy." By that I mean, state upfront that you're relatively new and thus may have a different perspective, which you've been asked to share with the group. Sets the stage in a non-threatening way. After that, you are free to state your case with confidence.

[monolith94]

For a speech as short as five minutes, I would recommend no joke.

The last speech I gave was almost twenty minutes long, and it was on the relationship of eastern and western cultural elements, and their conflicts in the art of Paul Gauguin. It was fun. Enunciate. Speak through your throat, rather than your nose. Speak crisply and with adequate volume. Remain calm, and remember that it's easy to keep the attention and interest of an audience when one's speech is only five minutes long.