But I don't like to "present"
Colleen McFarland
Change Management Expert | Acquisition Integrator | Relationship Builder | Warm Demander | Public Speaker
Recently a colleague told me about an article he read that questioned if high school students should be required to demonstrate mastery of "presentation skills."
I find the question interesting.
This mother thinks when her sons graduate high school they should have mastered enough essential skills that they could fend for themselves - pursue a career to earn income, build relationships and be happy.
The essential skills they need - at least in the business world -- most certainly include presentation skills. Mastering presenting isn't just about communication. It's about analytics, creativity, time management, handling stress and feedback, and confidence.
So back to the question - should high school students be required to master presentation skills?”
Yes.
I believe the most valuable by-product of mastering presenting is being able to dialogue better. First you need to get your idea and point of view understandable to different audiences. Then you need to be able to stay open (calm, confident, compassionate) so you can hear and really understand the feedback you get. At this point, you're dialoguing.
Great leaders are great at dialogue.
Being able to comfortably and effectively dialogue will benefit your work life and your personal life too.
So, work on it.
Make sure you and your team members are getting the opportunities to exercise and hone their presentation skills.
Tips you can use for your presentations (and dialogues)
Be able to:
- Boil down your ideas -- summarize what you want people to remember (e.g., Three things you should know...)
- Know your "stuff" -- get comfortable talking about it. Do the research needed to be deep in your topic. Practice demonstrating your knowledge by informally talking about the topic with others before you present.
- Deliver in a conversational tone - without referring to any “notes” (hint: Practice. Practice and practice again.)
- Know your audience and be ready to enjoy them. Acknowledge that you know them with a personal reference. Start your presentation with a light comment or story to set the tone.
- Welcome the questions. Actively listen to them.
- Thank the audience. Acknowledge their generosity to engage with you on a topic you care about.
Employee Experience Associate Director at WTW
6 年So important!
Financial Services Marketing Professional
6 年A nice reminder that we could all benefit from. Thanks for sharing!
Leader of Employee Experience and Culture Change
6 年I love the doll but I also love presenting.
Management Consultant at Systems Evolution, Inc.
6 年I agree!! I also think a dry run helps. I tell my nieces and nephews that practicing out loud is helpful, even if it’s just the dog as your audience :)