{
  "id": 14395879,
  "title": "A Colleague Wants Your Notes on Their Talk Before Thursday",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/a-colleague-wants-your-notes-on-their-talk-before-thursday",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-14T07:47:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/asael_shinder_9f53bdca840/a-colleague-wants-your-notes-on-their-talk-before-thursday-3c6k"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A colleague is presenting a talk at a meetup on Thursday evening, requesting notes and feedback before the event. The 25-minute presentation requires careful consideration due to the tight deadline of just two days, which is ample time to significantly improve the talk or cause additional nervousness. Before the talk begins, it is essential to ask one question to determine what aspect of the presentation would be most beneficial to receive feedback on. Some individuals may desire notes on the structure, while others are only interested in understanding if the content makes sense to an external audience. Others simply need reassurance that the talk is ready for delivery. During the presentation, it is crucial to observe the audience's engagement, focusing on moments when attention wavers, when confusion arises, and when interest is heightened. It is important not to read along with the slides on a laptop but rather to sit in the designated audience spot to gain a fresh perspective. Timing is also vital, as initial run-throughs often exceed the expected duration. Creating notes during the viewing session is recommended, although most of them should be discarded later. With only two days remaining, the feedback should be concise, focusing on no more than three key points, prioritized by their potential impact. Typically, the most significant improvement lies in managing time or enhancing clarity. In the provided instance, the talk ran eight minutes over schedule, and the section on caching could potentially benefit from condensation into a single slide. Identifying the thread between the second and third parts of the talk was lost, indicating a gap that could be addressed. It is essential to convey the essence of the talk in a single sentence, emphasizing what makes it unique. While aesthetics such as fonts and colors are not typically part of the feedback, focusing on what works well is crucial. Begin by highlighting the strengths of the presentation, and address the issues with specificity. The story about the outage was deemed the highlight of the talk, and it should be emphasized at the beginning. Speakers under pressure may unintentionally cut their strongest material due to fatigue, leading to the accidental removal of impactful content. The advice is not to rewrite the talk into one's own version, as the speaker must deliver their own version with their own words and rhythm in just two days. Offering a second run-through on Wednesday is suggested if requested. On Thursday, attending the talk in person, if possible, is the final and most valuable form of feedback the colleague can receive. A friendly face in the third row can provide a unique perspective that enhances the overall review.",
  "summary": "A colleague has a talk at a meetup on Thursday evening. On Tuesday they ask if you would watch a run through and tell them what you think. Twenty five minutes, a room booked for lunchtime, and a nervous smile. This is a different kind of feedback from almost anything else at work, because the deadline is fixed and close. Two days is not enough time to rebuild a talk. It is enough time to make one…",
  "key_points": [
    "Colleague requests notes and feedback on Thursday talk, with only two days to improve.",
    "Audience engagement observation is crucial; avoid reading from slides.",
    "Focus feedback on three key points, prioritizing time management and clarity."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}