Making-Original-Products-presentationzen

The Art of Being
Completely Present
8
We are offended when we try to have a conversation or a meeting with
someone who seems preoccupied—someone who is not fully “there,” listening
and contributing. Yet we have become quite accustomed to enduring speakers
and presenters who are not fully engaged with the audience and the topic.
One of the most important things to remember when delivering a presentation
is to be fully present at that moment. A good presenter is fully committed to
the moment, committed to being there with the audience at that particular
place and time. He may have pressing problems—who doesn’t?—but he puts
those aside so that he may be fully there. When you give a presentation, your
mind should not be racing with a million concerns, distracted from the here
and now. It is impossible to have a real conversation with someone when
he is “somewhere else.” Likewise, it is impossible to give a truly successful
presentation when you are “somewhere else.”
One of the most fundamental things you can learn from the world of Zen
is the art of mindfulness. You may know of mindfulness in its association
with meditation (zazen). But the interesting thing about Zen is that it is not
separate from the real world. That is, Zen makes no distinction between
ordinary life and spiritual life. Meditation is not an escape from reality at all;
in fact, even everyday routines can be methods for meditation. When you are
aware that your actions and judgments are usually just automatic reactions
based on a sort of running dialogue in your head, then you are free to let go
of such judgments. So, rather than hating washing the dishes, you just wash
the dishes. When you write a letter, you write a letter. And when you give a
presentation, you give a presentation.
Chapter 8 The Art of Being Completely Present
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