Page 18 - Leadership Basics 6

Types of Presenter

Each time we see a presentation, we can usually put the speaker into one of the categories below.

 ‘I’m sorry – this is not worth listening to…’ She says this by apologizing for her lack of
knowledge and promising to waste as little of the audience’s time as possible.

 ‘I’m nervous and not enjoying this, so don’t blame me.’ By not enjoying it, she is virtually
ensuring the audience will not enjoy it either. She is one of those for whom the ordeal is as

welcome as an salary decrease, and she makes sure everyone knows.

 ‘I’m bursting with energy and I’m going to expend it all during this presentation.’ This person
is a little more than keyed up. Not only do too many words come out too fast, but this
presenter has usually lost any idea of sensitivity to the audience and their signals.

 ‘I’m rather fond of dancing.’ This person may do something which resembles a square tango
whilst trying to talk intelligently. A friend of ours takes two steps forward, dips the knees,
then two steps backwards and dips the knees again. We are often too hypnotized by the
aesthetic movement to listen to what he is saying!

 ‘I’d rather be a film star.’ This person dresses, speaks, moves and even looks like a film star.
He regularly sweeps his hair back with his hand. He may appear good, but he is so unnatural

that few listen to his message.

 ‘I have so much to say, I don’t know where to start.’ There is so much important information
swimming around in her head, she cannot make up her mind how she should begin. Often her
notes and visual aids are mixed up because she has not prepared. No one disputes her
knowledge but she seldom conveys any of it effectively to her audience.

1 14