Four Workshop Presentation Tips For the Independent Consultant

As an independent consultant, unless you have a tonfrom a teleprompter. Without the teleprompter, his
of clients, you have to be constantly on the lookouteloquence is lacking. Forget notes, teleprompters, or
for opportunities to increase your business. Gettinganything else that reduces your connection with your
your message out in formats you feel comfortableparticipants.
with is what's necessary. One format that I look forAlways engage your participants. Look regularly from
are opportunities to present workshops. This is ansomeone with whom you can make eye contact and
activity that I find both exhilarating and challenging.talk as if are talking directly to that individual. Do it
And, above all it brings in new clients.with individuals throughout the audience during the
Every workshop presentation puts you in front of acourse of conducting your workshop. Engaging
new audience - an audience that has specifically comesomeone in the audience works wonders in
to hear you and eagerly anticipate learning what youeliminating any nervousness you may have.
have to offer. You cannot let them down.Encourage questions. At the beginning of the
Each audience is different. Even if you have beenworkshop, let the participants know that if they have
speaking on the topic for years, you have to preparea real burning question to feel free to interrupt and
each time even if it's no more that updating yourthat you will have no problem returning to the topic.
information and redesigning your topic to fit the newWith small groups of up to 25 people, this strategy
participants attending your workshop.works quite well.
Here's the preparation that's necessary each timeDo not use Power Point. When you use Power Point,
you are scheduled to present a workshop:it appears that you don't know what you are talking
Never speak from notes. In all of my speakingabout. It is similar to being a slave to notes or a
engagements, I have never spoken from notes. Iteleprompter. If you are passionate and
always wing it. Even though winging it has been givenknowledgeable about the subject you are presenting,
somewhat of a bad reputation from some self-styledyou will not want to feel locked in by following Power
experts, there is no better way to connect withPoint steps. Be ready to stray from the script if it
your participants. If you have the teleprompter inenhances your participants' experience.
your brain and not outside of it, you'll be more atIn summary, seek out and maintain connection with
ease and effortless in your presentation. Presidentyour participants. Eliminate anything that diminishes
Obama is described as being an eloquent speaker.that connection.
However, what he really does is read eloquently