Comments on: Style and Comfort http://thomaslarock.com/2009/11/style-and-comfort/ Tue, 22 May 2012 14:55:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: wnylibrarian http://thomaslarock.com/2009/11/style-and-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-1111 wnylibrarian Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:54:35 +0000 http://thomaslarock.com/?p=3158#comment-1111 Very nice blog posting. I feel I've gotten better speaking in front of groups. Our users group has helped immensely, but those are relationships cultivated over time. 97 librarians that I talk to on a semi-regular basis via phone & E-mail. Having established those relationships I now feel less nervous speaking in front of all 97 of them at once now. I think, as in all things, speaking in front of large groups just takes practice. It's never easy, but like a golf swing you've got to find out what works for you, and practice as often as you can. Very nice blog posting. I feel I’ve gotten better speaking in front of groups. Our users group has helped immensely, but those are relationships cultivated over time. 97 librarians that I talk to on a semi-regular basis via phone & E-mail. Having established those relationships I now feel less nervous speaking in front of all 97 of them at once now. I think, as in all things, speaking in front of large groups just takes practice. It’s never easy, but like a golf swing you’ve got to find out what works for you, and practice as often as you can.

]]> By: Chris Randall http://thomaslarock.com/2009/11/style-and-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-1110 Chris Randall Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:13:50 +0000 http://thomaslarock.com/?p=3158#comment-1110 Good essay. One of the things we did last winter at the Denver SQL Server User Group was "speaker training", where members signed up to present a 10 minute talk on a subject of their choosing, and then received candid feedback from the other members. The participants found it valuable, and we'll repeat it this year. Good essay. One of the things we did last winter at the Denver SQL Server User Group was “speaker training”, where members signed up to present a 10 minute talk on a subject of their choosing, and then received candid feedback from the other members.

The participants found it valuable, and we’ll repeat it this year.

]]> By: Chuck Boyce http://thomaslarock.com/2009/11/style-and-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-1109 Chuck Boyce Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:19:52 +0000 http://thomaslarock.com/?p=3158#comment-1109 Attitude is important. Don't fear mistakes, expect them. I once read where Jack Nicklaus used to be emboldened after making a mistake because he'd felt he'd gotten it out of his system and could now settle down and start kicking butt. The best technical presenter I have ever seen is Stephen Forte. He is self aware, but not hindered. He loves what he does and he loves learning. He is also fearless. If you get a chance, watch some video of him. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/428499/stephen_forte_uses_mysql_and_oracle_mdc_2007/ Attitude is important. Don’t fear mistakes, expect them. I once read where Jack Nicklaus used to be emboldened after making a mistake because he’d felt he’d gotten it out of his system and could now settle down and start kicking butt.

The best technical presenter I have ever seen is Stephen Forte. He is self aware, but not hindered. He loves what he does and he loves learning. He is also fearless. If you get a chance, watch some video of him.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/428499/stephen_forte_uses_mysql_and_oracle_mdc_2007/

]]> By: Thomas LaRock http://thomaslarock.com/2009/11/style-and-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-1108 Thomas LaRock Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:03:54 +0000 http://thomaslarock.com/?p=3158#comment-1108 that's a great idea Paul, let me add that to my list of things I want the Professional Development VC to help coordinate. that’s a great idea Paul, let me add that to my list of things I want the Professional Development VC to help coordinate.

]]> By: Jeremiah Peschka http://thomaslarock.com/2009/11/style-and-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-1107 Jeremiah Peschka Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:39:35 +0000 http://thomaslarock.com/?p=3158#comment-1107 'The first is that they are afraid of doing or saying something embarrassing' - amen to that. I used to be nervous about that when I spoke. Then I decided to just be me when I presented. You know what? My presentations got better. Sure, I've sworn a time or two, and immediately apologized, but it's always been when I've been very passionately discussing something important with the audience. I even uttered the phrase "This isn't brain surgery, it's more like civil war surgery." Which, as you know, is something that's likely to come out of my mouth. Once I got comfortable with myself speaking, I realized that even if I do make mistakes, nobody is going to notice. People really just want to learn, so be comfortable, find a style that fits, and do whatever else it is that you said. Great article. ‘The first is that they are afraid of doing or saying something embarrassing’ – amen to that. I used to be nervous about that when I spoke. Then I decided to just be me when I presented. You know what? My presentations got better. Sure, I’ve sworn a time or two, and immediately apologized, but it’s always been when I’ve been very passionately discussing something important with the audience. I even uttered the phrase “This isn’t brain surgery, it’s more like civil war surgery.” Which, as you know, is something that’s likely to come out of my mouth.

Once I got comfortable with myself speaking, I realized that even if I do make mistakes, nobody is going to notice. People really just want to learn, so be comfortable, find a style that fits, and do whatever else it is that you said. Great article.

]]> By: K. Brian Kelley http://thomaslarock.com/2009/11/style-and-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-1106 K. Brian Kelley Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:13:44 +0000 http://thomaslarock.com/?p=3158#comment-1106 Agreed, be yourself. If you don't, you're just adding to your discomfort. And that will make you struggle all the more with the presentation, leading to a less than rewarding experience. Agreed, be yourself. If you don’t, you’re just adding to your discomfort. And that will make you struggle all the more with the presentation, leading to a less than rewarding experience.

]]> By: Paul Randal http://thomaslarock.com/2009/11/style-and-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-1105 Paul Randal Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:10:17 +0000 http://thomaslarock.com/?p=3158#comment-1105 One other thing - try to find a mentor. A few folks at PASS asked me to watch them for 5 minutes and give them frank feedback, which I did. Maybe we should organize something like that for next year's PASS? One other thing – try to find a mentor. A few folks at PASS asked me to watch them for 5 minutes and give them frank feedback, which I did. Maybe we should organize something like that for next year’s PASS?

]]> By: Paul Randal http://thomaslarock.com/2009/11/style-and-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-1104 Paul Randal Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:07:13 +0000 http://thomaslarock.com/?p=3158#comment-1104 Adding to the last point you make about butterflies - butterflies are good because it makes you make sure you're prepared and focused. I've seen experienced presenters who become blase crash-and-burn. Butterflies diminish but are always there, no matter how experienced/comfortable you are. Cheers Adding to the last point you make about butterflies – butterflies are good because it makes you make sure you’re prepared and focused. I’ve seen experienced presenters who become blase crash-and-burn. Butterflies diminish but are always there, no matter how experienced/comfortable you are.

Cheers

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