Get Real
A vice-president client we'll call, Joe, recently presented to a group of peers and more senior executives. Half way through the material he lost his place. So, he stood there awkwardly for twenty seconds or so and tried to remember what he was supposed to say next. He cleared his throat, shuffled some papers and paced a few steps before he remembered and got him back on track.
Joe asked me what he could or should have done to avoid getting off track. I offered a few simple ideas about sticking to the core material and not getting into side-bar subjects.
A far bigger issue, though, was how Joe felt during those 20 seconds, and for four days afterward. Joe felt self-conscious, embarrassed and insecure. Why? Because "that is not supposed to happen and it looks bad."
Phooey! Rubbish! Balderdash! Losing one's train of thought happens to everyone. Every single person in Joe's audience has experienced precisely the same thing sometime in the past. I told Joe that rather than try to cover it up in the future he could say something like, "I'm having a presentation nightmare right now. I just lost my train of thought. Can someone help us get back on track?" Then wait for a kind soul to jump in. Someone always does.
Trying to cover it up is like putting Clearasil on a black eye. Everyone knows what's going on. And, it doesn't work. I think we need to be more real with one another. Say what is happening in the moment. Ask for help. Thank the person who helped. Move on.
It takes a lot of energy to try to cover up small mistakes (or big ones, for that matter.) Why not just admit you lost your place or made a mistake, make your apologies, ask for help, thank someone for it and move on?
Seems to me that's the path of positive energy, emotions and thinking. And those three things are much better for productivity than embarassment, shame and trying to save face.
Getting real is the fast way to get back on track.
Joe asked me what he could or should have done to avoid getting off track. I offered a few simple ideas about sticking to the core material and not getting into side-bar subjects.
A far bigger issue, though, was how Joe felt during those 20 seconds, and for four days afterward. Joe felt self-conscious, embarrassed and insecure. Why? Because "that is not supposed to happen and it looks bad."
Phooey! Rubbish! Balderdash! Losing one's train of thought happens to everyone. Every single person in Joe's audience has experienced precisely the same thing sometime in the past. I told Joe that rather than try to cover it up in the future he could say something like, "I'm having a presentation nightmare right now. I just lost my train of thought. Can someone help us get back on track?" Then wait for a kind soul to jump in. Someone always does.
Trying to cover it up is like putting Clearasil on a black eye. Everyone knows what's going on. And, it doesn't work. I think we need to be more real with one another. Say what is happening in the moment. Ask for help. Thank the person who helped. Move on.
It takes a lot of energy to try to cover up small mistakes (or big ones, for that matter.) Why not just admit you lost your place or made a mistake, make your apologies, ask for help, thank someone for it and move on?
Seems to me that's the path of positive energy, emotions and thinking. And those three things are much better for productivity than embarassment, shame and trying to save face.
Getting real is the fast way to get back on track.
Labels: keeping perspective, Presentation skills
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