Comments on: Umm, Ahh, Listen to Me http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2010/01/27/umm-ahh-listen-to-me/ Awareness, Development and Action in the Twin Cities Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:24:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Simon - a presentation skills trainer http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2010/01/27/umm-ahh-listen-to-me/comment-page-1/#comment-326 Simon - a presentation skills trainer Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:50:43 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=729#comment-326 You are so right about the Calculus example! :) Actually, it's worse than you might suppose because actually getting *any* presentation skills training in school (let along *good* training!) is pretty rare (at least on this side of the Atlantic - I'm in the UK). If you're not trained in it, you never even know it to forget it! :) Personally, I think I'd go a step further than you and say that it's not just a good idea that might bring you extra opportunities... it's an essential skill (yeah, okay, so I'm biased, obviously!). It's not that without decent presentation skills you might miss out on something above and beyond your job, it's that as a manager you simple can't *do* your job without making presentations. I'd echo your advice about getting feedback too - but don't forget that asking your audience is a bit like asking people who've been watching a tennis match: they're informed, but they aren't pros. Some of their diagnosis and some of their ideas might be wrong..... Cheers.... Simon You are so right about the Calculus example! :) Actually, it’s worse than you might suppose because actually getting *any* presentation skills training in school (let along *good* training!) is pretty rare (at least on this side of the Atlantic – I’m in the UK). If you’re not trained in it, you never even know it to forget it! :)

Personally, I think I’d go a step further than you and say that it’s not just a good idea that might bring you extra opportunities… it’s an essential skill (yeah, okay, so I’m biased, obviously!). It’s not that without decent presentation skills you might miss out on something above and beyond your job, it’s that as a manager you simple can’t *do* your job without making presentations.

I’d echo your advice about getting feedback too – but don’t forget that asking your audience is a bit like asking people who’ve been watching a tennis match: they’re informed, but they aren’t pros. Some of their diagnosis and some of their ideas might be wrong…..

Cheers…. Simon

]]> By: Chad Weinstein http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2010/01/27/umm-ahh-listen-to-me/comment-page-1/#comment-319 Chad Weinstein Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:52:19 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=729#comment-319 Jeff, You make great points. In would only add that, regardless of your level of skill or experience as a presenter, there is no short-cut around preparation for any presentation. It is the presenter's duty to make excellent use of the audience's precious time and attention. It is always worth preparting to make the most of those moments. Every time I forget that, I regret it. Jeff,

You make great points. In would only add that, regardless of your level of skill or experience as a presenter, there is no short-cut around preparation for any presentation. It is the presenter’s duty to make excellent use of the audience’s precious time and attention. It is always worth preparting to make the most of those moments. Every time I forget that, I regret it.

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