A while ago, one of my participants asked me this question “Do you have any tips to handle presentation?” When I asked why he would be interested in this, he replied “Jack, you seem to be able to lead and handle your group well in your training. How do you that?” So, now the question is “How To Handle Your Next Presentation to Your Colleagues or Peers?”
Honestly, it did not come natural because I am not “that type” of people when I am free to do something. This reminds me the lesson I learnt from my Extended DISC™ training. In fact, if I am given a choice, I would be more willing to sit at the back of the room and keep quiet. How many of you know what I am talking about?
You see we have different types of participants in the room. If we codify the participants in the same way, we will lose the focus and attention from some of the participants. As I recall from my previous training experience, it seemed true because some of my participants told me that my presentation was clear but some of them found it boring. Over the years, I started creating this belief that as a trainer, I won’t be able to please each and every one of them anyway.
However, things have changed and so is my belief as right now, my outcome in each training or presentation I am doing is to keep my participants fully engaged and involved, and ensure that each participant will at least learn “one” new thing from my training or presentation. So, you may ask how I do that?
For those who are living in Singapore, and for the moment please allow me to make this article slightly more suitable for Singaporean readers, my strategy is “to check the weather/ climate”. Now, using proper English, it means that even before I started my introduction, I will do a quick profiling of my group by telling my personal story.
The use of my personal story has a few benefits I believe and it has been working for me. Firstly, participants will feel closer and more personal to the trainer as it is no longer a trainer-participant relationship. Second, when I share with my participants my personal story, I am taking the opportunity to notice their facial expression and find out if they will react by asking for clarification or question or if they will simply remain silent throughout.
You see from an Extended DISC profiling perspective, the “D”s will be bored very quickly if I drag on the story for more than 5 minutes. So, the “D”s really want me to shut up and move on. How about the “I”s? The “I”s will seem to listen to me and talk to the other participants at the same time. This is especially when I am making some jokes whilst telling my story. The “I”s in essence, want fun and enjoy themselves.
How about the “S”s? Well, honestly, they could show their “feelings” and “emotions” if part of my story brings out my pain in the past. The most challenging group is the “C”s as they will seek clarification and ask me questions and expect me to give a “Yes or No” answer.
Is it interesting to use “telling my own story” strategy as a means to enter into the world of my participants for rapport building purposes and at the same time, allow me to do a quick profile on them?
So, in my actual presentation, when I introduce a new concept, I will make sure that the “D”s are listening. I will explain to the “I”s how fun the learning can be when I am introducing the new concept. As a group, we will make sure that no one will be left behind, which is what the “S”s are looking for. Finally, when all the “D”s, “I”s and “S”s are satisfied, I will spend time to work with the most critical “C”s to make sure that they get their details and finish their critique with total satisfaction.
In summary, I have found a more effective way in doing my presentation by applying what I know about Extended DISC™. I wish I knew it much earlier because it would have had helped me to understand myself and my participants’ profile a lot better.
Would you be interested in understanding your behavioral pattern based on the Extended Disc® Profiling Tool? You should take a look of my popular workshops – Extended DISC Behavioral Assessment Workshop and find out how this assessment may benefit you.
If you like what I said in this article or have any comments, I would love to hear from you too!
To Your Success!
Jack Wong
Certified MBTI® Practitioner for Step I™ and Step II™
Certified Extended DISC® Practitioner
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jwong139
LinkedIn: http://sg.linkedin.com/in/jackhmwong
Personal Blog: http://www.jack–wong.com
Website: http://www.empoweredrangers.com
Facebook Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/empoweredrangers
