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The do's of Presenting


A few weeks ago, I was asked to read a book to a group of children at my son's school. I decided to bring one of my favourite books, which is about all the things you can do with a cardboard box.

Filled with excitement, I sat down in front of the group of 4- and 5-year-olds but soon felt a flutter in my stomach. That flutter quickly turned into a knot, and I suddenly realized, with a shock, that I was NERVOUS!

I had a firm inner dialogue, telling myself that it was ridiculous to be nervous and that a group of 4-year-olds would be easy compared to the groups I usually face as a corporate trainer. Nevertheless, I still felt a bit uncertain.

For anyone who enjoys group facilitation and presenting, the ultimate quest is to unlock the secrets of engagement. How do we engage others and keep them in that state? I'm confident in dealing with adults, but suddenly, engaging 20 kids with short attention spans felt like a daunting task.

So, I decided to approach it just like I do with all my training workshops and presentations. Here are my four golden rules:

**Stimulate Curiosity**: As trainers, we are often eager to get to the answers, but we don’t spend enough time developing the questions. It’s the questions that pique the interest of both adults and toddlers. Simply providing an answer doesn't engage them. Take the information you want your audience to know and frame a question that guides them toward that answer.


**Introduce Change and Surprise**: Both adults and toddlers can quickly become accustomed to the status quo. When something in our environment shifts, we start paying attention again. So, tell a joke, show a picture, or present your topic differently.


**Relevance and Concreteness**: Both kids and adults struggle with abstract concepts. Ground your ideas in reality by explaining how they relate to your audience's lives. Use sensory details—what things look, sound, and feel like—to enhance your account.


**Tell Stories**: Researchers who study human cognition say that stories are “psychologically privileged.” Our minds treat them differently than other types of information. We understand stories better, remember them more accurately, and find them more engaging to listen to. When planning your presentation, consider how to convey your ideas through a narrative.

Facing my 4-year-old audience, I took a deep breath and began by asking what things you could make out of a cardboard box. Halfway through the story, I decided to grab a real cardboard box and put it on my head, which elicited giggles. I concluded the story by sharing how, when I was a little girl, my dad once built a giant fort in our living room using cardboard boxes.

And my 4-year-old audience? After a personal story, a silly joke, and a question that sparked their imagination, those little rascals transformed into engaged little angels, listening attentively to a story told by a complete stranger about all the things they could do with a cardboard box.

I hope you can use these strategies during your own presentations or workshops, so you won't need to worry about whether your listeners are fully engaged—regardless of whether they are 4 or 40 years old. ;)

Would you like to know more about our interactive workshops on Communication, Leadership, or Emotional Intelligence? Contact us at info@interactwa.com.au or visit www.interactwa.com.au.


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