Student Life October 2019

DR KATE BLACKFORD SPEAKS:
The Art of Presenting
BY DR KATE BLACKFORD
In most occupations we will, at some point,
be required to present information – be
that in a meeting, a conference or when
training colleagues. For some, this is a
daunting prospect and can result in anxiety
and even avoidance behaviours that can
stall one’s career.
Feeling anxious about having to stand up
and talk to a group of people can affect
our work performance, self-confidence
and our sense of well-being. At some
point or another, all of us have been
subject to the nervous presenter and
have found ourselves sat in the audience
feeling uncomfortable for them. These
experiences can come back to haunt us if
we lack the confidence and skills to present
in an engaging way.
I remember having to present at a school
event at the age of 14. I was gawky,
awkward and terrified! Even today, I don’t
remember what I was speaking about
because all I remember is my knocking
knees, shaking hands and fear that the
audience were seeing this. A few years
later I went into consultancy and had to
learn to present at conferences, to Boards
of Directors and run training courses.
The first course I ever ran solo I got the
delegates settled and strode across the
room to close the door and start the
course. I was wearing a trouser suit and
heels and on the way back to the centre
of the room to begin, my heel caught in
my hem and I did a comedy windmill style
stumble across the room. Everyone fell
silent, waiting to see what my reaction
would be… I sat on the floor and laughed
until I cried and the group nicknamed me
‘Calamity Kate’, a nickname that has stuck
with me ever since. A few years previously
I would have been mortified at this event
and it would have affected the rest of the
course negatively. Nowadays I remember it
fondly and it serves as a great ice breaker!
It really is all about perspective.
So why is good presentation style so
important? When we are required to
present we are seeking to share knowledge
and information. It is reasonable to
60 • OCTOBER 2019 • STUDENT LIFE