256: Where Are You In Your Presentation

<p>When we are presenting, we can be mentally separating out personal selves from the content of the talk.  There will be facts, data, statistics, details, examples, evidence, etc., which is all rather far removed from the individual presenting.  It is almost like we are doing third person presentations rather than first person. Technical people, in particular, like to remove themselves from the proceedings and only talk about the facts.  This is a big opportunity wasted.</p> <p> </p> <p>I am an introvert, so I understand about the reluctance to inject oneself into the story.  People who know me will be doubting that statement entirely.  They will say I am outgoing, confident, vocal, not shy and retiring at all.  The Myers Briggs personality analysis results define an introvert as someone who when they get tired, likes to retire from the fray, rest up and then return.  The extrovert grabs energy from others and so wants to occupy the center of the fray.  Following this split, I am a withdraw now to return refreshed later type.</p> <p> </p> <p>As an introvert, talking about myself or my family was something that I was highly hesitant to do.  In fact, I managed to give hundreds of public speeches, while safely keeping myself out of the narrative.  I realise that this was a big mistake. </p> <p> </p> <p>Now we don’t have to hang all the family’s dirty laundry out for all to see, but we can inject something of ourselves into the talk.  We can refer to our experiences with a particular subject.  We can tell stories of what happened to us when we did something we are recommending people to do or not to do.  When we do that we make a very strong connection with the audience and with a sense of reality.  Now the talk has moved from the theoretical to the practical.</p> <p> </p> <p>We all want to know what the reality is.  That is why we appreciate the opportunity to read consumer comments on products or services they have bought.  We are looking to cut through all the company propaganda and get some sense of what is real