… or actually what they don’t see in presentations!
A lot of our clients – when I ask them what they’re afraid of in terms of presentations – say that
- they’ll make mistakes
- their audience will notice them
- they will be judged/mocked/ridiculed for them.
I’ll look at (and have looked at already!) numbers one and three on that list – today I want to mention something about item two.
I commend to you ‘The Invisible Gorilla‘ which looks at the assumptions we make, as humans in our day to day lives. The books are easy to read and very well researched. Not wanting to spoil it I can’t go into too much more detail but the gist of one of the things we do as humans is filter out a very great deal of information. The books are replete with examples – many of which are more than a little amusing. Buy, read, enjoy!
What’s have invisible gorillas got to do with making presentations?
If people think that gorillas are invisible, what chances do you think they have of noticing all the mistakes in your presentation?
Let me give you an example – and remember I do this for a living, so I should be aware of what’s going on around me! :p
Yesterday I walked into the communal, living room of the house I share with my wife and two children…..
…. and didn’t notice this mobile.
It wasn’t until the second time I popped into the room – and literally walked into it – that I became aware of it!
Now, if I can walk around my own house and not notice four, 10-inch, coloured birds hanging from the light in the middle of the ceiling (I put them against a wall to make them easier to photograph) what chance have your audience of noticing your little mistakes? :)
Tips and tricks for dealing with mistakes in your presentations
- As they say in Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy – don’t panic
- Unless it spoils the presentation’s flow, don’t draw attention to it
- Deal with it if it needs dealing with (see rule two!)
- Move on.
