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We all have difficult situations that we must face which require our best efforts to communicate. For you, it could be a sales presentation. It could be a need to explain a new and unpopular policy. It could be a particularly high-pressure television interview. For others, maybe it’s presenting a year-end report to an angry group of stockholder. Maybe it’s political issues with a board. Maybe it’s presenting on a topic you are uncomfortable with. The list could be endless considering that the topic or audience that could be difficult for you could be a snap for someone else. Let’s consider what frequently happens when we focus on these difficult situations. Our palms or brow may sweat. Our heart may pound a little faster. We may develop a nervous tremor in our voice. We may fear criticism from our audience. We could project into the future and envision serious consequences. We could worry we will go blank and forget what to say. We may lose sleep or become irritable with those around us. Literally, the speech or presentation has by the throat. Our body, our mind, and our spirit are in its clutches. Now let’s reflect on what a professional would do at times like these. They would accept the challenge. Possibly, they would seek advice of professionals. They would look for ways to make it work for them, not against them. They would see this as a time to grow, a time to sharpen their speaking and presentation skills. They would realize that it’s what they make out of this presentation that counts. You may say, that’s easy for the professional, but I’m not that skilled a presenter, confident in my delivery, at ease with some audiences, or knowledgeable about many topics. Plus, I don’t have the time or the interest. What can I do? What can you do? One decision you can make is to be a Pro-Active rather than a Re-Active Presenter. Here’s the difference in these two terms. Pro-Active: Pro-Active means acting in advance to deal with expected difficulty or anticipating the difficulty. Being Pro-Active takes energy and effort on your part. Pro-Active Presenters are in charge. Re-Active: Re-Active means being responsive or reacting to a stimulus or the difficulty. Being Re-Active takes no effort or energy; it’s the knee-jerk reaction. It’s stimulus and predictable response. The stimulus calls the shots. Re-Active Presenters are not in charge. The following is one suggestion to help you be more of a Pro-Active Presenter. It’s a simple process, but vital to your success in a difficult presentation situation when your best performance is required. Writing Your Own Script In your mind, go to your favorite movie theater and have a seat. Get comfortable. Lean back and relax and prepare to watch a movie being made of your difficult, and possibly dreaded, presentation. Pay close attention to the directing. Watch as the Director guides the cast to act out before your eyes your negative expectations of the scene. Watch your worst fears unfold before your eyes and your concerns become reality. Make the picture vivid. Hear the words said that play out your worst nightmare. Watch the movie until "The End" explodes onto the screen. You are finished! Next, watch as you enter in to take charge. Take all of the reels of the movie and run them through a shredder. Drop them in a deep hole and bulldoze dirt over them. Pour acid on the reels and watch them burn. Have a cleaning crew come in and hose down the set and wash away the evidence. Fire the Director! Now, you are in charge. Hire a new Director or you be the Director. Get a new script. Hire new actors. This time the scene is as you would like it to be. Rather than discord there’s harmony. Rather than confusion there’s clarity. Rather than timidity, there’s confidence. Rather than failure, there’s success. Make this picture equally as vivid as the first one, but this time, you steal the show! Be sure and pay close attention to your audience. Visualize the audience you want to have. Is it 1 or 1000? Are they attentive? Do they sit patiently in their seats listening? Are they smiling? What are they thinking about you? Are they nodding in agreement to your ideas? Are you winning them over to your side? Do they give you a standing ovation? Or throw money? Make this scene better than you could imagine. Have it your way. Now, consider the outcome or results of your presentation. Does your audience take immediate action? Do they approach you for more information? Did you settle a long-standing dispute? Do they shake your hand and say, "Thank you"? Has this presentation secured your position as a leader? Have it your way! Finally, come back to your chair. Watch as "The End" comes to the screen. How do you feel now? Are you still and quiet? Relieved? Happy? What are you saying to yourself? "I did a good job! I knew I could do it! My audience was with me every step of the way. This was easy." Take time to enjoy this scene and congratulate yourself for taking charge. One of the most important ways to be a Pro-Active Presenter has nothing to do with organizing your notes, practicing your speech, or arranging your visuals. It’s spending time deciding what you want and rehearsing who you want to be. It’s being pro-active, rather than re-active and taking what you get. Being a Pro-Active Presenter is an idea that’s easy and simple and works. Go for it! Write your own script and you will be more of a Pro-Active Presenter. |
