Why to present better and how as a statistician

A conversation with Kaspar Rufibach

Why You Should Listen:

✔ By the end of this episode, you’ll:

✔ Pick up concrete steps to improve your presentation skills over time: feedback, recordings, formal training, and deliberate practice.

✔ See why communication is leadership – and why “you can’t lead if you can’t communicate” really applies to statisticians.

✔ Learn how to start a presentation: from a blank sheet to a clear set of 2–4 key messages your audience will actually remember.

✔ Rethink slide design so your slides support you—instead of becoming an information dump that competes with your voice.

✔ Understand the crucial difference between academic talks (“what I did”) and business presentations (“what we should do now and why”).

Get practical ideas to prepare earlier, present shorter, and focus on what your audience truly needs to hear.

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Episode highlights with timestamps

• [00:02:00] Why presentations matter more than you think
  Kaspar shares why statisticians can’t “hide behind the numbers” if they want real impact.
• [00:03:00] How Kaspar actually starts a talk
  From a blank sheet of paper to a small set of key messages.
• [00:07:45] The problem with crowded slides
  Why most slide decks try to do the wrong job—and what Kaspar does instead.
• [00:14:00] Presentations, reputation, and wasted time
  How the way you present shapes your personal brand with colleagues and leaders.
• [00:18:00] When leaders don’t care about your methods
  The shift from “here’s what I did” to “here’s what we should do.”
• [00:20:45] Starting with your conclusion
  How leading with recommendations can save you when your time is suddenly cut.
• [00:23:30] Simple habits to become a better presenter
  Small changes Kaspar says you can start using in your next talk.
• [00:29:00] Dealing with fear and staying authentic
  Why there are no “natural born presenters” and what really helps you improve.
• [00:33:00] Kaspar’s three core principles
  The key ideas he hopes every statistician remembers after this episode.

Links:

🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician.

🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills.

🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine.

🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities.

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