Page 342 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 09 11/20/02 1:02 PM Page 331
Keeping the Communication Flowing 331
every hour they will present. This helps ensure that they will have answers to unplanned
questions and will spend little time saying, “I do not know the answer to that, but will
get back to you with it later.” If this is done too often, a trainer can lose credibility and
trust.

Plan Your Opening Well
The only portion of your presentation that you may want to memorize is your opening
remarks. Once you get off to a good start and your participants start reacting positively
to what you are saying your nervousness will likely go away quickly.

Concentrate on Your Audience

Rather than focus on the nervousness, concentrate on your learners and how you will
address their needs. Think about the activities and potential outcomes. Get caught up
in your material to take your mind off yourself.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

This does not mean to try to memorize all of your session content. That will likely end
in failure because short-term memory can hold only a limited amount of information.
Also, if someone asks a question or gets you off a topic, you may have trouble refocus-
ing and remembering what you were going to say. This is one important reason for
ALWAYS using notes or a lesson plan. Rehearsing what you will say in the actual room
and with the actual equipment you plan to use can mentally help fix the process in
your mind. That way, when you are actually speaking to learners, it will be like a déjà vu
experience in which it feels as if you have been there in the setting before (because you
have). One technique that I find highly useful is what is called a wall talk. When I was
training to become a Marine Corps Drill Instructor in the early 1970s we stood before
full-length mirrors practicing for hours. This allowed us to hear ourselves and see our
gestures simultaneously. Although this was effective for what we were trying to accom-
plish, I encourage use of the wall talk before a blank wall instead. The reason is that
you eliminate the distraction of watching yourself or seeing other things in the mirror.
Instead you can concentrate on your voice articulation and quality. The wall reflects
your voice, making it a useful tool for hearing what you have said. Adding a tape recorder
and listening to the presentation later is also helpful.

Do Not Place Undue Stress on Yourself
You are your own worst critic. Lighten up. Some people strive for perfection, which is a
lofty goal. Certainly do what you can to be successful, but acknowledge that some things
are out of your control. Do the best you can to plan, organize, and prepare, but if some-
thing goes wrong, shake it off and go to your backup plan.