Even a Nerd Can Be Heard

So you've been given a topic to present. You are responsible for creating the title and then writing a paragraph that explains what your session will contain.  The deadline is tomorrow. 

That's when it happens. 

Complete system shut-down. 

Your brain is doing what ever brains do that is the equivalent of hand-wringing.  It is not functioning.  Your heart isn't much help either, because it is pumping at 40 times the normal rate.  And let's not even talk about the somersaults going on in the pit of your stomach. 

What to do?  Find something that you are interested in and pay attention to it.  That’s right.  Do not force yourself to doggedly sit in your chair and produce.  Ask a writer.  Do you think they can cure writer’s block by locking themselves in a room and squeezing the ideas out of their head? It just doesn’t work.   

What you need is inspiration, ideas, exposure and an angle.  And often they come from the oddest places.  And yes, I am the first to admit that sometimes it takes that last minute burst of adrenaline to get the creative juices going, but often it just takes a change of scenery.  Go to a movie, watch a cartoon, walk your dog, get up and out.  Sometimes you might find inspiration in the produce section of your grocery store. (Did I mention I did a presentation called "The Peach versus The Marshmallow"?)

And if the ideas are just not coming, there is a book filled with tips for unlocking those ideas.  It’s called “ The Corporate Rebel’s Productivity Guide” and is written by Betsy Burroughs.  She honed her techniques when she worked in advertising agencies and had to drag ideas from her clients.  Her tips can help you with productivity but they can also help you get those brilliant ideas out of your head.   

I just returned from the Sage Software partner conference.  There were the usual keynotes and breakout sessions, fabulous food, and opportunities to visit with lots of friends. 

This year's event was unique in that it was the unveiling of the North American team's new President and CEO, Sue Swenson.  She gave her first speech to an anxious crowd after having been in the role just six weeks. 

What Sue did in her brief keynote was fantastic. Rather than making bold pronouncements about all of the changes she intended to make, Sue helped us connect to her on a personal level.  She told us about her background and outlined the opportunities that attracted her to this new role.  She was very comfortable on stage and it seemed that she was having a personal conversation with each person in the audience. 

There is no better result for any presentation than to let people see the real you, to make others want to get to know you better, and to instill confidence in those who will be following your lead.  Sue did that with ease.