CAL2005: Nurturing the Presenter (or, Now That You’re a Presenter, Don’t Panic!)

Bett Kopit

• Lesson #1: No plan survives first contact (She set up the chairs a particular way, the attendees came in and started rearranging the chairs. I was the first as I wanted to sit by the outlet in the back of the room.)
• She welcomed others in the room to share their experiences, “as long as they’re positive and not horror stories”
• “no stress”
• It’s just us in here, the presenters
• People who never present, have no idea what the presenter is going through
• If you don’t get the reception you were expecting, it might warrant further investigation
• It’s a dance between the presenter and the people listening
• There is room at the table for everyone
• Different presenters do it different ways
• You are different, not less, not more
• What you say in the manner you say it is valuable, not necessarily valued
• Focus in on task
• Listeners are so happy that it’s happening to you, not to them
• Disruptions happen
• Believe in the generosity of the group towards you
• Adult learning theory
• People today can be rude
• They’re not aware of their affect (what their body is saying)
• The culture has changed in the past 20 years
• Sense of politeness is 1/3 of what it was 20 years ago
• Stay on task, no matter what you’re getting from the group
• Anger
• Ugliness
• Boredom
• Adults take evaluation more seriously
• They expect an “A”, not an “A-”
• Take away the fear of evaluation
• Discuss the topic openly
• Be proactive in setting up the behavioral expectation
• Will not be addressing technical concerns in this presentation
• You must resist the image of perfection you are going for, you’ll never live up to it
• It will never be the way you expect it to be, something will go wrong
• Partnership with your participants instead of thinking of them as the other
• Be authentic, genuine and real with what is going on
• It is ok to be confused
• Handout: 20 Factors for an Effective Presentation
• Arrange the space / room arrangement
• Get there early if you can so you can set the room as you need it
• Arrange your position in the room
• The presenter should face the door
• The students should have the door behind them
• Least amount of distraction for presenter and students
• When you can’t you can’t
• Protect the integrity of the space for your participants
• Honor the schedule
• Be proactive
• We’re all in this together
• Don’t forget breaks
• End on time
• Adults will do better if they believe you’re partnering with them
• Rehearse the presentation
• Blue note cards
• Absorbs light & easier to read
• No need to memorize
• Actors need to memorize, you’re not an actor
• You need to be able to make eye contact with your listeners
• Get out from behind the podium
• Don’t look at your watch
• Plan the distribution and utilization of the handouts
• All at once, or piecemeal?
• She prefers piecemeal
• Allow for spur-of-the-moment breaks
• They’re falling asleep
• You’ve lost control of the class
• After lunch is deadly
• Interesting/involving activity for after lunch
• Plan your opening remarks / beware of jokes
• Don’t begin with a joke
• Easy to offend someone
• Be humorous without telling a joke
• Give clear directions
• What’s appropriate in the group?
• Turn off cell phones, contribute ideas, ask questions, etc.
• Set the purpose for listening
• Do this very early in the presentation
• Scope & sequence
• Tell them what’s going to happen
• Suggests printed agenda as handout (as appropriate)
• Techniques for instruction
• How can your listeners use this information
• Tell them what we’re here to discuss
• Reduces straying off topic
• Leading questions
• Prepare to get the discussion going by using these
• Increases participation
• Know your role
• Partnership with your audience
• Don’t set yourself up as the guru
• If you do, people will knock you down
• If your word is gospel or bad news, present it gently
• Give as much warning as possible
• Vary your voice
• Be enthusiastic
• Provide praise
• Behavior management
• Responding to silence
• Be aware of body language
• Redirect unclear information
• Respect your audience

I had to leave this session early to attend another, overlapping, session.