Great Presentations

Yesterday was the first LEAP presentation opportunity. While I was unable to see all of the presentations due to a schedule conflict, I was very impressed with the five I did observe. It was evident that everyone put a great deal of effort into making the presentations engaging and informative. In particular, everyone seemed relaxed and comfortable while in front of the group. This is an important hurdle for many when faced with the prospect of public speaking, but it does get better and easier the more you do it.

A couple of specific positives that I observed:

1. Leann's flannel board presentation was creative, engaging and so on target given that she was presenting about the Youth Services Coordinator's role. I loved the flow and the "story book" approach. And, it was short, but powerful. Shorter, focused, high impact presentations leave the audience with exactly the message or information intended. This is something to strive for!

2. While all of the presentations effectively told either the story of the role their mentor plays or about their mentor as a person, Nathan's presentation was very effective in bringing those stories together. When he was finished, we knew what was involved with being a Regional Manager, and we also gained a lot of understanding about how his mentor invests himself into the role. Nathan did this with humor and a very comfortable conversational style. Many, many seasoned speakers work for years to achieve that conversational tone. Employed correctly, this presentation style really connects with audiences. However, one drawback is that it is easy to lose focus. Keep that in mind.

Take the peer evaluations very seriously, as they are critical to improving your presentation abilities. Integrate them with how you felt while making your presentation. Reflect on the style and pacing. Think about your observations of the audience as you were presenting. Doing these things will help each of you improve on already solid foundations.

I am really looking forward to seeing the next round of presentations.