First demo to the whole team next week and I'm dreading it more than any interview.
I have to walk everyone through a feature I built in the sprint review. It's maybe 10 minutes and the feature works fine, but the idea of talking while a dozen people (including two staff engineers) watch makes me want to disappear.
For those who've done this a hundred times — does the fear fade, or do you just get better at hiding it? Any concrete tips for not going bright red and rushing through it? I know it's "good visibility" but right now it just feels like a threat.
2 comments
- 0
AnonymousAnon Rehearse the first 30 seconds until it's automatic — that's where the nerves peak, and once you're rolling the momentum carries you. Also totally fine to open with 'quick heads up, first demo, bear with me.' Teams are so much warmer than the audience in your head. What are you demoing?
- 0
AnonymousAnon The fear fades, mostly because you realize nobody's watching as hard as you think — half of them are half-reading Slack. Two concrete things: (1) write yourself 3 bullet points and glance at them, don't script it word-for-word or you'll sound robotic. (2) Do one full out-loud run the night before, alone. The first 30 seconds are the worst; once you're past the intro your brain flips into "just explain the thing" mode. You've got this.