Continuing on the last blog article about Kronos Training Zen, in this entry we will talk about how you you can be more visually active in your presentations.
What are you doing visually to maintain energy? One sure way to lose your participants is to stay in one place for an extended period. Now, I am sure all of you know that you shouldn't just sit in front of a podium and talk, but how many of you sit at your computer, going through task after task, never getting up or moving? I'll bet more than a few. By staying in one place, you are sending your learners to sleep just as Sister Mary Lorraine used to. Here are some tips.
Break away from that PC - Don't be afraid to get up and out of that chair! One way to do this is to project to a white board and get up every so often and circle areas of focus. Draw and number processes on the white board, and when those areas come up in when presenting in the application, connect the specific screen, dialog box or window to that process written on the board.
Better yet...
Take a Walkabout - Most classrooms are set up today to allow instructors to get to any learner at any time. Take advantage of this. Walk around watching what your participants are doing while you are speaking. If you see someone a little behind, take 30 seconds and get them up to speed.
Talking while walking around the room will required your learners to follow you around, keeping their interest. Much like the shark, who is constantly moving until death; once you stop moving, you begin to kill their interest level in what your are saying.
Gesticulate a little bit - Now, I am not talking about some weird type of stretching here, I am asking you to use your arms, hands, even legs and feet to make a point. Some people do it naturally, and if you do it too much, you will lose the focus of your learners, but at the right time and in the right place, hand and arm movements are an excellent way to emphasize a point you are making. Remember, there is a fine line between effective and idiotic. You know which side to stay on.
So there you go. Keep that energy high to maintain the focus of your learners. They may not notice what you are doing, but they will be better for it.
Good luck with your training presentation.
Comments