Giving A Lecture

Abstract

It was to be my first lecture in a big venue and, like all young medical registrars I was nervous. My consultant gave me some advice. Hundreds of lectures later and even after 20 years retirement, I still take it when someone asks me to deliver one. Here are his points. Keep it short and leave time for questions. Keep it simple—remember you know the subject (they wouldn’t have asked you if you didn’t). Most of the audience will learn something new and if they don’t they will just feel smug that they knew it already, so they’ll all be happy. If possible, say something at the beginning that will make them laugh, and they will be on your side. Practice it to yourself and others before giving it and make sure it keeps to time. His advice has served me well over 60 years, although as you age, the likelihood that you will have something new to tell people reduces, so you need to switch to talking about historical things that the audience won’t know about.