When you present, do you need things to go exactly according to plan? If so, you might be putting yourself in a vulnerable position. Dean recommends taking a “quantum approach” to presenting, making you relaxed and open to more possibilities, so you can knock your presentation out of the park.
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Okay folks, it’s time to get quantum. I want to talk about something I call Quantum Presenting—it’s how I think and compute in my brain when I present. It keeps me comfortable, relaxed, and free. Now, I’m often fired up when I present, but I’m not uptight—and the reason is, I present in a quantum way.
Think about traditional computing—it’s binary. It’s built on ones and zeros, on or off states, right or wrong. A lot of people present that way. They plan every word, every paragraph, and then they try to duplicate it exactly. And the problem is, at every syllable, you have the chance to “get it wrong.” A thousand chances to fail—it’s a recipe for tension and rigidity.
Quantum computing, on the other hand, is about possibilities. Everything exists in multiple states at once—until it’s observed. That’s how I approach presenting. Until I actually say it, nothing is locked in. I stay open to how something could be expressed in the moment, based on what’s happening with the audience, the energy, and the flow of the conversation.
When I present, I have a clear sequence and a flow—a set of movements and ideas that I plan to move through. But within that framework, I’m constantly open to new possibilities. If someone asks a question early, I don’t say, “Hold on, that’s coming up in a few slides.” I take it on right there. I adapt in real time.
This approach allows me to stay present, connected, and alive to what’s happening. Every sentence, every idea, every interaction can exist in multiple potential forms until I bring it into the world.
So here’s my challenge: stop trying to get it “right.” Present like a quantum computer—structured, but open. Planned, but flexible. Let your presentation live in a state of possibility until it’s spoken. When you do, you’ll find yourself more adaptable, more human, and far more free.
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