Ed. note: In Part One and Part Two Gayle covered the important foundational challenges in putting together your material for leading a conference or training session. Part Three covered putting the presentation together--and step-by-step Gayle will help you do that successfully. This final part ends with some invaluable personal advice.
What to wear?
Appearance plays an important part in how the audience perceives you. Assessments may be accurate or completely off base, but they will be made. To think otherwise is to be into major denial.
Clothes provide a strong non-verbal message. Two good guidelines for presenters:
• Dress up a notch. A jacket always gives a skirt or pants and blouse a touch of authority.
• “Wear” your profession. Dress for the role you are filling. You are a Christian professional in a role of leadership to other Christian professionals.
Clothes can make statements. A woman presenter expresses thoughtful listening as she gracefully puts her hands in her skirt pockets. She shows a move to informality by removing her jacket during a small group discussion time. A wise presenter chooses footwear allowing her to keep her mind on her work not on her tootsies.
Now is also a good time to review your hair style and makeup. Usually it is not a good idea to make drastic changes to your appearance just before your presentation; to do so may only serve to make you self-conscious. Subtle changes are often confidence builders though, so have a good haircut and spruce up your makeup.
Final good advice for presenters
• Never underestimate an audience. Talk up to them, not down.
• Give people the freedom to disagree with you. Never argue your point.
• Be gracious and friendly to everyone.
• Don’t play favorites or call only on your friends.
• Call people by name as much as you can.
• Never lose your temper.
• Never fake it; admit it if you don't know.
• Do your homework.
• Avoid negative remarks. Never criticize the audience or anyone in it.
• Never put down the town or the facilities.
• Use politically correct, non-sexist language.
• Have some kind of break every hour.
• Have a sincere interest in your audience.
• Do have something of value to say.
• Do not preach or scold. Teach.
• Tailor your presentation to the audience.
• Never point at anyone with your finger; use your full hand, palm up.
• Be yourself.
• Understand you cannot please everyone.
• Realize that at least 99 percent of the audience is supportive.
• Make yourself available; don’t just stay with other presenters.
• Evaluate your performance and welcome the audience’s evaluation.
Enjoy the process. And remember, nobody gets angry if you conclude 5 minutes early.
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For the entire series, click on the link that follows:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Please share your thoughts, comments, questions!