The Successful Speaker

September 2008

Contents This Month

· Unconscious Incompetence

· TGS (Tour Guide Syndrome)

· Analysis Paralysis

· Quotations

· Update Your Email Address

· Refer Madness

Unconscious Incompetence

According to one learning model, we all start learning a new behavior by being unconscious incompetent. Someone in this first phase is unaware of how to perform the skill and lacks the know-how to perform the skill. In presentation context, this is someone who simply talks off the cuff and is unaware of neither how he or she delivers the message nor how to improve. Since this newsletter is about presentations, I’ll continue with that example.

To improve, someone must become aware of their incompetence – become conscious incompetent. This requires training or study. People in my workshops often feel that their presentation level has regressed. In fact, they have become conscious of their incompetence whereas they were previously unconscious of their incompetence (I’m not overly fond of calling someone incompetent, but that’s the lexicon of the model).

The next step is conscious competence. To get here, a presenter must practice regularly and get feedback (internally and externally). This is a skill-building phase. When a presenter “arrives” at this level, they are sound communicators but have to remain very aware of what they are doing. Sometimes their fluency suffers because of their consciousness.

The fourth step (I don’t think the final one) is unconscious competence. To get to this phase a presenter must make a routine of presenting. Their skill level becomes an unconscious habit.

I don’t believe this is the end though. Presentation skills are a lot like golf – the best in the world are always honing some small aspect of their craft. Tiger Woods, when he returns from injury, will always be working on something as should all of us as presenters. The best presenters are unconscious competent in general yet conscious competent (or conscious incompetent) on certain minutiae.

TGS (Tour Guide Syndrome)

Last week I sat on a monorail at the Dallas Zoo and listened to the tour guide with my “presentation skills ears.” What I heard was a very sing-songy delivery. This is often a result of someone delivering a message with no physical animation but trying to include vocal animation.

While part of this sing-song delivery can be attributed to giving the same presentation countless times, the primary contributor is lack of accompanying physical movement and gestures. A friend of mine once told me, “Motion creates emotion.” Very true!

Actors know the value of gestures and movement in creating genuine inflection. If you’re not sure of that, watch one of those “making of the animated movie” shows. When you see the actors doing the voice-over work, they will be simulating all of the movements their animated characters will be making. Those actors understand that part of the key to real-sounding inflection is realistic movement.

When you are preparing for an important presentation, spend some of your time on your movements and gestures. Otherwise you may sound like one of those bored (and boring) tour guides!

Analysis Paralysis

One slide that always worries me during a presentation is one that includes “Analysis” in the title. Why is that a concern? Because it often only tells me the numbers, but not the meaning of the numbers.

If the audience wants only the numbers, they’ll ask you to send them a report. If they ask you to present the numbers, they also want some interpretation of the numbers. Make sure you identify not only the “what” of the numbers, but also the “so what.”

Quotations

“One who forms a judgement on any point but cannot explain himself clearly, might as well never have thought at all on the subject.” – Pericles (Athenian statesman)

“Worry makes for a hard pillow. When something’s troubling you, before going to sleep, jot down three things you can do the next day to help solve the problem.” – Life’s Little Instruction Book II

Update Your Email Address

Don’t miss an issue of The Successful Speaker. If your email address is going to change, let me know about it.

Refer Madness

If you had a good experience in my workshop/seminar, share it with someone you know. If you provide me with a lead that generates new business for me, I’ll pay you (or your favorite charity) $250 (less if it is less than a full-fee engagement).

If you belong to a professional organization that needs a speaker or If you know any business or non-profit organization (including your own), that could benefit from my workshops, presentations, coaching, or needs a facilitator:

1. Tell your contact about me.

2. Tell me about your contact. Call me at 972-378-0937 or write me at dgunby@mindimensions.com

3. Wait for your check (if I get your contact’s business)

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