29 Jan proper presentation pressure: Over-inflated; post #2, forgetting The value of 1
by Shawn Ritchey https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB_M-f_aU1lrkPTBYl514fw
This article is also featured on OneAccord blog: https://www.oneaccord.co/blog/great-presentations-the-value-of-one
This is my second post when considering Presentations as similar to tires – both can become over-inflated or under-inflated with negative outcomes. My first post addressed K.I.S.S. as an example of over-inflating when speaking https://shawnritchey.com/rethinking-k-i-s-s/. I see this as a misguided attitude by the Presenter.
“Forgetting the value of 1” is also a misguided attitude when speaking.
Phantom of the Opera is the longest running show on Broadway; currently at 13,370 performances and counting. One Actor had performed the same role more than 9,000 times. Impressive, but those numbers mean very little to the audience seeing the show for the first time. An Actor who is intimately familiar with their role or a Presenter her material but performs each time as if it is the first, knows the value of 1. But Actors/Presenters who convince themselves that the audience should be impressed by their performance simply for who they are have forgotten the value of 1. That is a misguided attitude; over-inflated.
When we present are we allowing that misguided attitude to creep in? One way I challenge myself to correct over-inflation when presenting is to remember what Fredrick L Collins said. “There are two types of people – those who come into a room and say, ‘well here I am’, and those who come into a room and say, ‘ah, there you are’”.
Forgetting the value of 1 usually happens as I slip into the mindset of entering a room, or stepping on stage, and think, “well here I am”. But when I dare to genuinely turn my attention outward to others (“ah there you are…”) I find that I share the information as if it’s the first time; remembering the value of 1.
Might I also remind us to slow down – breathe – when leaving contact info on a voice message. It may be the 9,000th time for you and “first-time” hearing for the person listening.
In my third post, we will look at the Improv Myth as another misguided attitude to avoid when presenting. https://shawnritchey.com/proper-presentation-pressure-post-3-the-improv-myth/
Shawn Ritchey L.I.V.E. Corporate Storyteller https://shawnritchey.com/corporate-storyteller/
Shawn Ritchey L.I.V.E. Inspirational Storyteller https://shawnritchey.com/storyteller/