by Richard@DecisionSkills » Thu Jul 10, 2014 2:36 pm
Naveen, there is plenty of good material to work with here. There are a few things where we don't understand each other but no big deal. Currently what I see you doing as an IT trainer is training employees on topics such as how to use the company Intranet or email, going over policy, etc. I see you standing at the front of a class of between 15 to 30 people that are all sitting behind computers. You teach the same topics repeatedly. Am I way off? If I am horribly wrong just tell me.
Another question. What is your biggest fear? That you won't know the answer to a question, that someone will laugh?
Here are some recommendations for you personally. For anyone else that happens to stop by this thread, these recommendations are for people not comfortable with public speaking, not public speaking in general.
-1- You need to practice, preferably in the exact room where you provide the training if possible. Go through a few dry runs. If you are using power point, work on not reading directly from the power point. You should only have a few bullet points or 1-2 graphics per slide. If you can make a slide transition every 30 seconds the audience will focus on the screen. Ideally, ask one or two friends or close co-workers to help provide feedback.
-2- Set the room up to improve your level of comfort. This is why I asked about your position and lighting. If you can get behind a lectern/podium, have the students 10' back instead of right up on you and dim the lights over the podium with most of the light focused on the power point screen then for a novice speaker it should help. The students will naturally be looking at the screen. If you can't, you have to work with what you have.
-3- Have a blue tooth remote with laser pointer to advance the slides. You can use this tool to allow you to move around as you like and point out things on the screen, once again focusing the students attention where you want.
-4- Always have a bottle of water and some tissue nearby in case you need to sneeze or you want to take a quick pause for a dry throat or if you momentarily lost your train of thought.
-5- Prepare some (5 or so) 3x5 notecards with pre-made questions you know the answer to and you believe the students need to know or would like to know.
-6- Always arrive early to get things set up. Put out a sign up sheet. Set out 3x5 note cards with a piece of candy and a pen. The candy is based on the psychological theory of reciprocity. Students basically owe you so they will be more likely to perceive your presentation in a favorably. I'm not making this up, it is science, lol.
-7- As students enter the room, take the time to greet a few of them. Make small talk, ask them where they are from, how long it took them to get there, why did they decide to take the class, whatever questions just to get the students talking and seeing you as a normal person.
-8- When it is time to start make sure to give a quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what the class is about. As you introduce yourself, have a slide with your contact info. Thank the students for participating up front.
-9- Tell the students if they can please hold their questions until the end of the presentation. Ask them to write down any questions they have on 3x5 cards. Tell them you will try to get to all the questions, but if for some reason there is not enough time or you don't address their question then to please see you after the class or email you. The entire point here is because you are not comfortable, you are eliminating the fear of random questions or being presented with a question you do not know by using 3x5 cards.
-10- Give your awesome presentation.
-11- If for some reason a person breaks rule -9- and does ask a question in the middle of the presentation, if you know the answer go ahead and respond and if you are not sure, never be afraid to simply say, "Good question, I don't know the answer but I will find out and get back with you."
-12- After your presentation ask the students to hand in their 3x5 cards. The vast majority will be blank, but that is why you have your pre-made cards. Cover all the questions on the 3x5 cards if you can. If you come across a card you don't know the answer, go ahead and read it out, say you don't know the answer and that you will find out and email anyone that wants to sign up.
-13- Over time you will collect questions from students and so you can throw away the pre made 3x5 cards and just always have some actual student questions from previous classes on hand.
-14- At the very end of the class, finish by once again putting up a slide with your contact information and then welcome any students that still have unanswered questions to come up and ask.
Granted all of these points may not work for you personally, but hopefully there are one or two things you can use.