Queen of Conversation - Forget What You Were Saying During a Presentation

Newsletter, September 24, 2009

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In This Issue ...
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1. Quotation of the Week
2. Conversation Tip of the Week
3. Word of the Week
4. Now It's Your Turn
5. More Goodies: Website Reminder
6. Check Out My Blog

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1. Quotation of the Week

All my failures were practice shots anyway."
-Cathrine Ann

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2. Conversation Tip of the Week
Forget What You Were Saying? Don't Panic.

Let me tell you about Cathrine Ann, who told her story at a
women’s leadership conference in Honolulu. She’s a success now,
with a multi-million dollar business she started. Before that,
she was a mess: alcoholic parents, abuse at home and at school,
ADD, pregnant at 15, homeless, stealing and prostituting. The
audience was rapt.

When it came to the Q&A, Cathrine had a problem. The question
was complex, and she answered the first part. Then she stopped.
“I forgot the question. Did I tell you I’m ADD?” (We all laughed.)

The questioner repeated part 2, and Cathrine answered
energetically. Then she froze. “Oh.” We knew she’d forgotten
again.

What would you do in this situation? Most skilled speakers
would say, “Oops,I forgot again. Where was I?” Cathrine’s
response was unique:

She spun toward the back of the stage, then faced the woman at
the microphone. “Why don’t you come up here and give me a hug?”

We loved her for it.

Remember, you don’t have to be perfect when you’re making a
presentation. (If anybody’s listening, it’s a presentation.) Just be
yourself. If you mess up, say so.

“Don’t hide it, paint it red.”

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3. Word of the Week: rapt

1. Deeply moved or delighted; enraptured:
2. Deeply absorbed; engrossed:

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4. Now It's Your Turn

Do you have a problem of some sort? It could concern relationships
money, or some personal trait that you admire in others but don't
see in yourself, such as — in Cathrine Ann's story — the ability to
handle yourself when you forget your place. Turn that problem into
a conversation starter. The more specific your question, the better
information you'll get. For example,

1. "You're a good public speaker. Could you give me a couple tips to
    help me be more confident in front of a roomful of people?"
2. "I'm terrible at balancing my checkbook. Could you give me some
    tips for getting it done every month?"
3. "I'm always late, and you're punctual. Could you give me some
    suggestions for getting to work on time?"

Make a project of it. Ask several people. But don't ask just to start a conversation. Pick a topic you really want to know about.

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5. Website Reminder: Get More Goodies

Get newsletter archives and articles and tips for good conversation
at www.QueenOfConversation.com. (It's where you signed up for
this newsletter.) You'll land on the page that offers the 15 free
questions. Go to the bottom of that page and click on "site map."
Zoom! You'll go inside where the goodies are.

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6. Check Out My Blogs

Guest Blog from Pam Chambers, Hawaii's top presentation coach:
A Good Presentation Tip from One Smart Cookie

Thoughts sparked by the Hawaii Writers Conference:
How to Build Confidence and Meet New People

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