Practical Presentation
| September 2019 | Real Hero Report
Preparation
Part One of a Three-Part Series
Class is over. Some students sat bored to tears, while others
were confused about the purpose of the presentation. No
one learned or matured professionally.
something went terribly wrong? The results can be catastrophic–
instructor fails the presentation; student fails to learn, then
fails to live through the next shift. And the unseen thoughts of
suffering loved ones may be, “If only your training had been
good enough.” Well the training was more than “good enough”
on paper, and yet…
The concepts were valid; the teaching material supported
the concepts; I believe in them; and I know it’s worth sharing,
so how can I persuade others to listen? Persuasion is what
instructing is all about. The whole existence and purpose of the
instructor is to persuade.
Often instructors have dedicated themselves to the mechanics
of their discipline but not the mechanics of their delivery. Doing
and teaching are not the same. So, do I continue to teach other
how good they need to be? The importance of effective delivery
is considerable.
Being reared in the South, I had the fortune of being exposed
to some grand politicians, Godly-preaching, and down-right
good storytelling. I noticed a common link of these wonderful
communicators, and I have borrowed a collection of those ideas
to greatly improve presentations. Let’s visit several aspects of
effective presentations during this three-part article to include
mechanical, mental, and “heart.”
Here is where most instructors begin to tune out, saying that
am in classrooms and speaking assignments as often as I am on
the range. Don’t tune out now, read on. Someone somewhere is
depending on us to get it right.
Mechanical Aspects of Presentation
these conversations become presentations in front of audiences,
the effective conversationalist can become a boring presenter.
Too often this person ends his lengthy teaching segment with a
hoarse throat and tuned-out students. Using our voice correctly
can overcome this. Here are a few mechanics that can be
practiced regularly to improve our instructional deliveries.
Vocal tension will strain the voice, especially if used on the
open range, a large room or an auditorium. A strained vocal tone
is uncomfortable to the listener and will shut down a speaker
during long presentations. Consider abdominal breathing
(stomach moving outward) for best control and to prolong the
use of the voice. Using the diaphragm (chest moving outward) is
casual breathing, but does little to support speaking. Abdominal
breathing is best for speaking. Breath in, allowing the abdomen
to expand, not the chest. This is the way you breathe when
lying on your back. When speaking, the abdominal muscles
should lock and do the work. Slowly contract the abdominal
muscles during exhalation to control the amount of air needed
to complete a sentence or phrase. Similar to when shouting but
for air and a weakening voice. This is not to say that all breathing
must be long, deep breaths. After your initial tank-up of air you
only need to breathe deeply enough to complete your sentence
with good emphasis and support, like topping-off the gas tank of
your car.
Good posture is critical for proper breathing. Stand tall when
you speak with your muscle pressure being at your belt line
instead of your throat. Let the abdomen do the work, not your
throat. Posture tip: imagine tying a string to your chest directly
between your breasts and lifting. The chest will rise, and the
shoulders will move slightly rearward, freeing your abdomen for
proper breathing. This prepares the voice to function in a relaxed
manner.
Proper breathing through posture and use of your abdominal
muscle, will give you something in common with singers and
great orators…sore abdominal muscles instead of a sore throat
and endurance to teach for hours.
In the next article, I will discuss voice tips to support the
presentation.