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What Does Golf Have To Do
With Presentations?
3 Golf Tips That Can Help You Next Time You Do A Presentation
As a professional speaker I am always looking for different ways
to approach a topic. Lately, I have been looking at the world of
competitive sports and it’s application to speaking. Let’s
look at the world of golf. You may not be a golfer but there are
some powerful golf tips that you can apply to any presentation.
1. Study The Greens For Better Putting
One golf expert suggested looking at the overall slope
of the green; watching how your partners’ shots roll on the
green and; tossing the ball toward the hole to see where it breaks.
How does this relate to giving a presentation?
You need to read your audience before you present just like reading
your slope before you putt.
Try to arrive early. Toss around conversation like the ball on
the green. This will give you a feel of your audience. Do they anticipate
bad news, good news or chastisement? Find out how and what they
heard about your presentation. .
Are you speaking at 3:00 p.m. on a Monday or Friday? Look at the
faces of your audience. Are some in a preoccupied fog? Are they
looking at their watches? Decide how much you must raise the volume
or pump up the enthusiasm. You may have to maximize audience involvement.
Keep it simple and focused.
2. Practice Your Putts
If you play golf how much time do you spend practicing putting strokes,
or bunker shots? No one would go into competition without putting
in good “putting time.”
The same applies to a presentation. A critical part of the presentation
is rehearsal. I suggest the following for busy people:
-
Carry index cards with quotations or statistics you can memorize
during any downtime.
-
Carry a small tape recorder to practice parts of your presentation.
It is especially helpful to work on the opening and close of
your talk.
-
Play your entire presentation in your car while driving.
Watch yourself in the mirror while you orally rehearse. Practice
your gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice.
Avoid “winging it.” Many of you do it well but excellence
is the off spring of preparation. Practice your delivery like you
would your swing.
3. When Your Ball Is In A Hardpan Or Any Tight Lie Consider
The Following:
When doing a presentation you may have to pitch from some tight
spots. For example; your slides fall on the floor, the microphone
quits working, or you must change the length of your presentation
because of a fire drill.
What should you do?
-
If the microphone quits don’t stop talking. You may need
to move closer to your audience and project your voice.
-
Don’t tense up. Relax. Breathe slowly and deeply. Don’t
worry about what people will think if you fail.
-
If you are in the middle of your delivery-channel anxious energy
into impressionable gestures.
-
Stay confidently focused. Remember you are the speaker and
in control. Bottom line is to anticipate a problem and plan
for it. Excellence is achieved through preparation.
Rosemary (Rosie) Horner
is a New Jersey based Trainer, presentation skills trainer and coach
and professional inspirational high energy speaker. She is the author
of The Olympian Woman, 59 Ways to Show Your Clients You Care, and
10 Openings and Closings I Dare You to Use in Your Next Presentation..
She is a member of Toastmasters International and Charter Member
of New Jersey National Speakers Association, New York Chapter of
National Speakers Association and Professional Member of National
Speakers Association.
We offer this article on a nonexclusive basis. You may reprint
or repost this material as long as Rosie Horner's name and contact
information is included.
Rosie Horner,
Horner Associates
www.rosiehorner.com
All Rights Reserved, Horner Associates, 2003
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