Lynn Espinoza is a broadcast news veteran with more than a decade of media, presentation and executive coaching experience. She has developed personal coaching sessions for Fortune 100 C-level executives, corporate communicators of all kinds, doctors, lawyers and leaders in non-profit.
Daily Presentation Practice
Posted on May 8, 2008. Filed under: Latest News
“I have no time to practice my presentation skills”
I hear it at least once in every session. Busy executives who just can’t find the time. What they are trying to convey is that taking a few minutes every week, or even an hour before an actual presentation, will prevent them from doing the 100-other-important-things on their list of important-things-to-do. I contend that they have the opportunity to practice in any situation that involves speaking to another person.
This bee is in my bonnet today because of a plane ride I took this week. As luck would have it, I was not seated next to my husband as planned, but next to a man my husband refers to as Mr. Cranky Pants. My husband was seated one seat behind him, and I asked Mr. Pants if he would mind moving one row back in a trade with my husband. Turns out he did mind. “OK”, I said, “it’s certainly not a problem”. But then Mr. Pants turned on me. Anger in his eyes, body language tight, and he chastised me for publicly embarrassing him (no one else heard my request), and thoroughly offending him (I thought I’d been pretty nice about it).
Back to my original point. When you are in public, you are presenting. Though not in the formal sense, you have the opportunity to practice connecting, convincing, and honing your visual, vocal and verbal skills. Conversely, you are being judged by your audience - even if just an audience of one. You can practice manipulating your eye contact, body language and word choice to make a positive impression on your audience. The more you practice in your day-to-day transactions, the more these skills will support you in a formal presentation. Smile; be generous; negotiate positively for your intended outcome (that does not mean give in). Your audience will remember you positively.
I know you’re curious, so I’ll tell you that I didn’t have to fly cross-country with Mr. Cranky Pants. It turns out, Ms. Great Presentation Skills had the seat next to my husband, and she graciously exchanged with me. She didn’t have to - that’s not the point. She was open, friendly, and articulate. She likely uses those skills in her workplace, just as Mr. Pants uses his skills in other environments.
Practice your presentation persona every day to be percieved in the most positive way. You’ve got the time.
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2 Responses to “Daily Presentation Practice”
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Great story. We’ve all run into both of these characters– “Pants” and “Skills”– haven’t we?
So true- I have seen these types of people every time I fly. In reality you are selling yourself whenever you go somewhere.