Powerful presentations
Nynke June 3rd, 2006
As a follow up to Divide and Unite
We are bored by bulleted missionary presentations
talking down at us, shuing us “what to do next”.
It makes for harnessing, instead of nakedness.
If we are not to become our “opposers” …
If we do not want to harness others …
If we do not desire to enforce our will on others …
how about we figure out “what to do before” first?
What if we were to do some foreplay?
When we present “Agile Development” for a particular context and purpose, we need a number of expected skills, as well as a number of (possibly) unexpected skills. The “unexpectedly” required skills easily follow when taking one step back from the “expected” desired skills. Ummm. What I mean to say is, perception skills precede succeeding with presentation skills.
Relationships skills
- Managing group dynamics. For example, making contact by looking people in the eyes. Stepping back: We need to be able to analyze group dynamics in the moment.
- Being able to address a whole group by addressing its individuals. Stepping back: We need to question individuals for relevant information.
- Patterning, pacing, timing, and focusing of presentations. Stepping back on this one: We need to have a look at the big picture of business relationships of the local context and purpose.
- Varying and interesting fitting styles: Presentation Styles. Stepping back: Generating options for acceptance by clients and customers might be a good idea.
- Seeking and using feedback from audience: Stepping back: Seeking and using feedback from clients and customers.
Content skills
- Adapting to local context and purpose. Stepping back: Determine local context and business goals.
- Following likely causes and effects. Stepping back: Define problems, all of them, including the ones we think aren’t. Problems don’t go away by declaring them not to be a problem.
- Differentiating for specific roles in the audience. Stepping back: Collecting, sorting, and evaluating data on (likely) audience.
Support materials, tools, and skills
- Review media that support the message we deliver. like graphic layout, clarity of ideas, (gender) biases, timeliness. Stepping back: Identifying and getting keys from personal sources.
- Practice with the use of media and machines. Stepping back: Actually practicing.
- Using media to engage and support intake. Stepping back: Exploring media effects with ourselves as victim. Creative use of media.
And there are no guarantees …
The Great Unknown isn’t called that for nothing.
Let’s allow for and come prepared for
not knowing everything.
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