Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Tip #93: After a Conference Presentation

Immediately after the workshop has ended:
    1. Gather your materials over to a side table so that the next presenter can set up.

    2. Pack up quickly.

    3. Have your business cards available.

    4. Be prepared to spend time in discussion with participants.

    5. Be conscious of the next presenter's needs.

    6. Move the discussion to a new location.

    7. Bring unused handout materials to a public table for distribution.

  1. Postscript:

    1. If you collected participants' cards for an end of the workshop drawing or give-away, send a follow up thank you or promised materials to the participants.

    2. If the participants generated work products on flip charts, take pictures of the flip charts, post them on Kodak Gallery or a similar website and send the link out to the participants as a visual reminder of their work during the session.

    3. Be prepared for a lot of excitement and affirmation for your topic, your workshop, and you!

    4. Recognize that people's best intentions- for example, to invite you to present a workshop at their location or conference- may be realized.

    5. Enjoy the attention you receive at the time.

    6. Do not be disappointed if nothing happens later as a result of your workshop. Sometimes it will take a few years until someone calls you!

    7. Ask to see the workshop evaluations.

    8. Realize that a list of your conference presentations is a good addition to your marketing literature.

Monday, October 17, 2005

Tip #92: Making a Conference Presentation

During The Presentation:

  1. Be conscious of starting and ending times.

      a. The participants have somewhere else to go after your workshop. b. Recognize that the next workshop presenter needs time to set up.

  2. Avoid a long introduction
    - people are generally there to learn about the subject, not about you.

  3. Be conscious of the fact that your audience has varying degrees of knowledge and experience in your topic.

    1. If time or workshop size does not permit individual introductions, it helps to get a show of hands on questions relating to knowledge and experience.

    2. Prepare to involve the more experienced participants as facilitators or to draw on them for practical examples.

    3. Make no assumptions about people's level of understanding.

    4. Explain everything, even if briefly, to ensure a common point of reference.

  4. Build in time for participant interaction and application.

  5. Build in time for questions.

  6. Explain the agenda, format and objectives of the workshop before you begin.

    1. It will help people to focus better on the topic if they know what to expect.

    2. Make sure you deliver on promised content.

  7. Come prepared to provide additional information or application exercises in case you misjudge your timing.

  8. Focus on your topic, not your personal accomplishments.

    1. People like personal examples, as long as they are not self-serving.

    2. Active marketing of your services or product is considered unethical.

  9. Make sure that you are sincerely interested in your topic.

  10. Be prepared to present a complete and stimulating workshop, whether the audience consists of five or fifty participants.

    1. Do not take low attendance numbers personally. There are many workshops and activities that will be competing with yours for their attention.

    2. Do not make any assumptions that one time is better or worse than another.

    3. Make whatever number of participants appear feel welcome.

    4. Do not make disparaging remarks about the size of the group.

    5. Be aware that participants may come and go throughout your workshop.

  11. Make sure that your content fits well within the given time frame.

  12. Follow proven adult learning principles.

  13. Some workshop presenters have endeared themselves to participants by handing out gifts or candy for participation.

  14. Make sure you have your business cards with you.

  15. At the close of your workshop:

    1. Thank the participants for attending.

    2. Ensure sufficient time for evaluations to be handed out and/or completed.

    3. Invite participants to meet with you after the workshop.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Tip #91: Preparing for a Conference Presentation

Before The Presentation:

  1. Recognize that everything that can go wrong will go wrong.

  2. Call a week before the conference:

    1. Find out the number of workshop participants, if available.

    2. Confirm the building, room and time of your workshop.

    3. Confirm the audiovisual equipment you will need.

    4. Find out important names and both work and cell phone numbers of people who are responsible for audiovisual equipment and room scheduling.

  3. Bring more than enough handouts, but also bring the masters in case you need to make more. If you have sent your training masters ahead to be duplicated, bring additional masters in case there is a slip up in printing.

    1. Ensure that your handouts are professional in quality.

    2. Remember that your handouts will serve as a marketing piece. Have your contact information (name, phone number, and website) on them.

  4. It may make your life easier if you bring an LCD projector and extension cord with you.

  5. Always bring extra pads of paper, pens, name cards (if you use them), magic markers, masking tape, and other tools of your trade.

  6. Check out the room and layout well in advance of your workshop. You can often call the host hotel to get this information.

    1. Be prepared to move tables and chairs.

    2. Be prepared to track down audiovisual equipment.

    3. Check out electrical outlets.

  7. Be aware that you may have little time to set up for your workshop.

  8. If there has been a room change for your workshop, be prepared for confusion.

    1. Clearly identify the title and topic of your workshop in writing on the door and in the room. b. Reconfirm the title and topic of your workshop before you begin, in case some participants have confused the room. c. Recognize that some participants may hold you responsible for the inconvenience created by the room change.

  9. Bring a extra introductory paragraph so that the person who introduces you has accurate information.

    1. Give thought to what you would like the participants to know about you.

    2. Ask the person what s/he will say.

    3. Make sure the person knows the correct pronunciation of your name and your correct title.

    4. Find out the extent of that person's duties; for example, will s/he be handing out and collecting evaluation forms at the end of the workshop?

    5. Negotiate how much time the person will need at the beginning and end of your workshop.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Tip #90: Handling Anxiety in Front of Large Audiences

How do you get the audience on your side?

It helps to have a sense of humor about yourself and the situation. I prefer to avoid posing as the expert, because then I feel that everyone will think I'm a ready target! Instead, I prefer to partner with my audience. It never hurts to acknowledge that "the collective expertise in the room far exceeds my own" and then ask for examples or information from the seasoned members of the audience. This will validate them and diplomatically move them into co-facilitator roles.

Ask for and use participant's names when acknowledging comments or questions or when setting up simulated role playing in which the participants simply loan you their names for the story of the role play and do nothing more.

Speak in language that is accessible for the audience and shows that you are familiar with their buzz words and concerns.

Share information about yourself that is relevant to the topic and to the audience, so that they can feel that you understand or have experienced issues similar to their situations.

Don't be afraid to smile and to be yourself.

If the audience believes that you are sincere and honest; if you present your information clearly and concisely, using language appropriate for the audience; if you reference their issues; and if you are respectful of their expertise and experience, the audience is much more likely to accept you and be open to your presentation.

That's how you can get an audience on your side!