It’s not the skinny jeans.

It’s not the lens-less glasses.

It’s not even that uncontrollably long beard.

What makes someone a better presenter is their ability to go against the grain. To do something their peers are not necessarily doing. To say no to the standard. To be a trail-blazer.

In reality, no particular group are better at presenting, but what hipsters are stereo-typically known for (well, besides dirty clothes and dumpster diving) is what can help us to be better presenters:

Standing out and wanting to be the first to know or try something

If you are willing to stand out, if you are willing to try something out of the ordinary, then you can massively improve your presentation skills.

 

Here are the standard things presenters do:

1. Prepare slides first
2. Fill slides with bullet-points
3. Write out a script
4. Rote-memorize the script
5. Stand motionless on stage (except when they click the laser pointer with a flourish to jump to the next slide)
6. Blind the audience with their laser pointer
7. Expect the audience to be interested
8. Read their bullet points to the audience
9. Look at the screen and ignore the audience
10. Expect the audience to be excited by their topic and reasoning

Here’s how to use hipster philosophy to deliver a better presentation:

1. Don’t do any of the things on the list above

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below…