To foster a more engaging and meaningful dialogue, we ask everyone at UTA-Do events — including participants, presenters, panellists, respondents and moderators — strive to uphold the following guidelines.
Speak to your audience.
Don’t assume everyone knows what you know — provide important context and use words and examples that everyone will understand. Avoid undefined buzzwords and jargon as much as possible and don’t rely on overworn talking points to articulate your questions.
Think before you speak.
Stay focused — don’t think out loud. (More killer, less filler.)
Always provide evidence.
Back up your comments and questions, don’t make unsupported assertions.
Meet people where they are.
Speak so everyone can understand you. Don’t try to sound smart or important. Don’t indulge in theoretics or poetics and other exclusionary language.
Pair critique with new ideas.
Strive not to simply criticise — think about what both you and others can do to create solutions.
Keep time.
We will keep to the programme, with or without you.
Make space for others to speak.
Keep questions focused and brief.
Questions over comments.
While comments can sometimes be additive, questions always are.
Stay focused on the topics of the session.
Don’t make it about you; don’t self-promote; don’t go off on tangents.
Ask open-ended, authentic questions.
Don’t ask leading questions.
Tell them who you are first.
And why you are the right person for this session. Limit it to relevant context only, don’t promote you or your org.
Set the scene.
Let people know what you will talk about up front to help them connect the dots as you go.
Stay focused.
If we talk about everything, we end up talking about nothing.
Speak to your audience.
Don’t assume everyone knows what you know — provide important context and use words and examples that everyone will understand. Avoid undefined buzzwords as much as possible.
Define your audience.
Provide context on who the audience of your work is as well as what the tangible and intangible outcomes of your work are.
Provide concrete examples.
People relate best through stories.
Strive for meaning.
No empty calories; don’t just parrot what others say; don’t stick to just statements that no one would disagree with.
Be transparent.
Be real about current conditions and progress, opportunities, challenges, shortcomings and limitations. Avoid repeating rote promises or empty goals/targets.
Be easy to listen to. Be creative.
Use a conversational speaking style. Do your audience’s work for them — draw them in with examples, stories and a well-structured presentation. Never read written statements.
Check in throughout.
Don’t wait until the end to ensure that your audience is engaged and understanding you.
Synthesise your points as you go.
Help your audience understand your points by summarising them throughout.
Wrap it up in a bow.
Tell them what you told them — synthesise your main points before closing.
Hold speakers to account.
If a speaker or audience participant goes off topic or speaks for too long, politely interrupt them to refocus and move the conversation along. If anyone makes unsubstantiated claims, challenge them to provide evidence.
Frame each session up front.
Provide key questions and concepts to help participants connect the dots to larger themes throughout the event.
Briefly restate questions from the audience.
After each round of questions, synthesise and restate them for the benefit of both the panellists and the audience.
Synthesise throughout and at the end.
Help your audience understand points by summarising them as you go. At the end, synthesise the main points.