Apr 2010

Camp allocation Presentation
My team leader gave me the opportunity to present infront of the Controller BAs.
At school I prepared presentations by writing what I want to say on a piece of paper and then reciting it a lot of times until I can remember every single line.
The problem is the presentation becomes monotoned or doesn't sound sincer; I forget what to say in mid sentence or key points are missed.
With the experience from co-op, I realize that's not the way for presentations. This time, I decided to just talked about what I know and believe in.
This is not lack of preparation. I think of it this way, instead of spending maybe 2 hours to prepare and recite I am now always prepared. I am pulling resources from 2 month worth of work (the project started in Feb)
It went well, I received great feedback. Feedback like you really understand your stuff; Confident; Easy to follow; Conversational style. I was delighted.
What got me thinking of this new approach? I was at a few investing presentation outside of work. The presenters were all very great. Then I had a chance to hear a presentation from the business owner himself. I found that his presentation was not as flattering as his employees; at the same time, Bratt Wilson was doing a speech at UofL, a friend of mine was there and he reflected the same thing.
These help me to come to a conclusion. Great presentations I heard are from people who's job is presenting. They spend lots of time preparing then presented the same presentation lots of time. Play with sentences and studied audience reactions.
However, great business people are just above average presenters, they don't prepare for their presentation. They bring who they are and their values and beliefs into the presentation. It's an extension of their every day life.
That's whom I want to be.