A Career Highlight on the Horizon

As I write this article, I’m aware that in a very short time I’ll be participating in a lifetime career highlight. I’m excited and just a little nervous, but that’s appropriate whenever you approach significant events.

I’m going to be presenting at a conference. Not unusual for me as I’ve done this on many occasions over my long tenure, but this time it’s different.

It’s an international conference for our company’s brand and it’s taking place in South Africa, where I’ve learnt they have a strong presence.

I will present on the main stage to a sellout audience on 17th May – and here’s my quandary:

What to share with people whose experiences may be totally different at a cultural and business level? How do you create engagement so that their curiosity is piqued and how do you maintain that interest for the duration of the talk so that everyone derives some definite benefit despite my Kiwi accent potentially making hard work of things?

In thinking about all of this, I’ve rationalized that the best place to start is with a process that I’ve used many times before – and it’s stood me in good stead whenever a high level of professionalism is required.

Here’s my simple system.

Resist procrastinating. It never helps to wait so long that you find yourself in a corner, desperately looking for inspiration and losing vital time for fine tuning and practicing. I’ve never been someone who digs themself into this particular hole. I prefer to start early and move incrementally. So, it’s essential I select a potential topic – and soon – amongst the numerous suggestions I’ve been given.

The next step is always preparation and research.

Sure, you’ve settled on a topic, but is what you have to say the latest information or interpretation of it? I think of this as currency.?

Currency is a concept that requires what you deliver to be relevant, up-to-date and engaging.

It’s something I’ve come to respect given a number of conferences I’ve attended where often-repeated, outdated ideas were presented using data shows with no real sense of purpose other than for a box to be ticked, and I’d prefer to avoid this for obvious reasons. Then there’s the timing of everything, hitting your main points in the correct order, not relying on notes because they are distracting for you and your audience, and not going off topic.

I once went to an event where the speaker got so far off topic that no one, including the presenter, knew what was happening.

Lastly, what to wear, given a gal has got to look good, how to open (I’m thinking Te Reo), what resources to provide and how to finish well?

There you have it and soon I’m hoping I’ll have done it!!

Wish me luck.