Introduction
Live demos and technical walkthroughs are high-stakes moments—technology can fail, audiences have different technical levels, and real-time questions can derail flow. The ability to handle these smoothly while keeping audiences engaged and informed is crucial for building confidence.
Why This Skill Matters
Poor demos undermine confidence even in good work—technical glitches without recovery, getting lost in menus, or drowning audience in details. Smooth demos build excitement, prove capabilities, and create confidence in both the work and your professionalism.
Core Principles
- Prepare and practice - Know your flow, test in advance
- Have backup plans - Recording, second device, alternative approach
- Narrate your actions - "Now I'm clicking here to show..."
- Check for understanding - "Does this make sense?"
- Handle failures gracefully - "Let me show you the recording"
- Adapt to audience - Adjust pace and depth based on reactions
- Focus on value, not features - "This solves X problem for users"
Good Examples
Smooth demo flow: "Let me walk you through the core user flow. I'll narrate as I go—stop me anytime with questions. [Clicks] Here's where users first land... [Shows feature] This addresses the problem you mentioned about X..."
Handling technical failure: "Looks like we're having connectivity issues. Let me show you this pre-recorded demo while we troubleshoot—it's actually better quality anyway. [Switches smoothly to backup]"
Managing pace: [Notices confusion] "I'm moving too fast—let me back up and go through that more slowly."
Why It Works
Prepared, narrates clearly, handles problems professionally, checks for understanding, adjusts to audience.
Tips
- Practice demo 3+ times before presenting
- Test technology 30 minutes before (internet, screen share, login)
- Have screenshots/recording as backup
- Use fresh test data, not messy dev data
- Prepare demo account/environment specifically for presentations
- Narrate actions as you perform them
- Pause regularly for questions
- If something breaks, acknowledge and move on smoothly
- Focus on happy path, mention edge cases verbally
- End with clear summary and next steps
Connection to Other Skills
Combines presenting work confidently, explaining complex concepts, reading the room to adjust pace, managing emotions when tech fails, instilling confidence through smooth execution, and handling questions.
Action Items
- Before next demo, practice full walkthrough 3 times
- Create demo environment with clean test data
- Prepare backup (screenshots, recording, second device)
- Build narration habit: talk through what you're doing
- After demos, reflect: What went well? What would you improve?
- Create demo checklist: test tech, prepare backups, practice flow