Presentation Skills - Collaborator
Storytelling
“Story, as it turns out, was crucial to our evolution -- more so than opposable thumbs. Opposable thumbs let us hang on; story told us what to hang on to.” -- Lisa Cron, Wired for Story
As Lisa Cron indicates, stories tie us to values and beliefs. And they tie us to emotion. And as some of the neuroscience you will discover in the resources below indicates, there is nothing that makes content “stick” like emotion. By becoming an effective storyteller, you build not just your capacity as a presenter, but the likelihood that participants will remember and connect with your content. In this section you will find references from different sources of information and perspectives on Storytelling. Use this section to become familiar with the key understandings for deeper applications later on.
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Listening & Responding To an Audience
Thomas Edison famously said, “We have but two ears and one mouth so that we may listen twice as much as we talk.” Short of giving an actual speech, these same proportions should hold in a presentation. Listening and responding to an audience means asking good questions, creating space for participants to respond and leaning in to listen and respond in a way that honors both where your audience is and where they want to go.
Below are a few resources and opportunities to learn more and practice these essential presentational skills.
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Adaptability & Flexibility
I remember reading that the coach of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps used to do things like hide Michael’s goggles or swim cap before an important race. The rationale was that Michael needed to be prepared for anything and adaptable when something didn’t go as planned. The only way to be flexible when it counted...was to practice.
No two audiences are alike. In fact, no two people are alike. As teachers, we may have infinite patience for varied student readiness and needs. Guess what? Adults are simply grown up kids. They require that same level of patience and ability to pivot based upon interest, need, and level of readiness. Your ability to adapt and stay flexible during a presentation is key to ensuring every one of your learners walks out with the knowledge, skills and mindsets that are a match to the intention of your lesson. Check out the resources in this section to become familiar with key understandings around adaptability & flexibility and how to embed these skills within your practice.
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