The Hip Pocket Presentation: A Manager's Guide to Career Advancement

What is a Hip Pocket Presentation?

• 💡 A Hip Pocket Presentation is a 45-minute to one-hour presentation, typically with slides, on a topic you are knowledgeable about and can deliver on short notice.
• 🎯 It must have value for a broad audience of colleagues and professionals, and you must have rehearsed it thoroughly.
• 🔑 Most managers do not have one, making it a significant missed opportunity for career advancement.

Why You Need a Hip Pocket Presentation

• 🚀 Having a hip pocket presentation allows you to seize opportunities to speak at events, increasing your visibility and showcasing your expertise.
• ⚠️ It can be crucial in emergent situations, like when a speaker cancels at a conference, allowing you to step in and save the day.
• 📈 It demonstrates readiness and initiative, differentiating your career from others by showing you are prepared and capable.
• 🌟 It aligns with the mindset of being "open to opportunities," enabling you to actively engage with potential new roles or projects.

Choosing Your Presentation Topic

• ✅ The cardinal rule is to choose a topic you know, like, can master, and have experience with.
• 🧠 Focus on your strengths and what you are passionate about; your energy and knowledge will resonate with the audience.
• 🛠️ Brainstorm topics starting with "how to," based on your experience, rather than worrying about what others might want to hear.
• 💡 If unsure, you can seek guidance by sending your ideas and background to the podcast hosts for recommendations.

Preparing Your Hip Pocket Presentation

• 📏 Assume your talk will be one hour, meaning only six to eight slides (including a cover slide) are needed, with one slide per 10 minutes of delivery.
• 🚫 Avoid cramming too much content onto slides; the rule is one slide per 10 minutes, not 10 slides per minute.
• 🎤 Rehearse extensively: stand up, record yourself, and critique your delivery after a break of several hours to gain objective perspective.
• 🤝 Practice in front of a friend or colleague for feedback and be willing to tweak wording and slides based on their input and your own experience.
• 🗣️ Remember that you are the presentation, not the slides; slides should support your delivery, not be read verbatim.