In this nice Autumn Saturday afternoon, I was lucky to join the fun-filled and supper useful TTT event with other 16 TM members in "Naked Hub", 1277 Beijing Xi Lu, 3rd floor. (Why the address is important? you could find Jeff there.)
Jeff led the audience to review the key points of previous workshop by asking a few questions below.
1. Why do you join today's workshop?
Again, think about your emotional, selfish reason. I would be satisfied if my workshop is enjoyable so the audience like it and want to hear more.
2. Workshop and presentation, what's the difference?
Workshop is to teach someone to do something, the audience get new skills after the workshop. A Pathways introduction is definitely not a workshop, but how to complete Pathways could be. Get your points across the audience is important in both.
3. Have you use Evaluation criteria form to evaluate your groupmates' workshop?
Jeff emphasize it is so critical to have standard to follow. He once showed this to his German customer who was so impressed even though he had no idea about it. You don't need to have the exactly same form, but the idea is as a professional trainer, you need to be ready to answer how you judge whether your workshop is good or not, and have this ready to show. It's also critical for members who want to win the championship in contest to keep in mind the criteria for the judge.
Some people don't like review their own video, this is OK but please at least get others to review it. Jeff mentioned the feedback once he received made him cry but it turned out to be a real valuable one.
4. Remember to use Presentation pyramid, and the purpose is most important.
The second main part is to provide group feedback led by Jeff on two ppt slide deck and one video. That's the fun part and many learning points generated.
PPT tips:
1. Some slides have stuffs on the left. This could be personal preference and show your uniqueness. However if all people do that, that won't differentiate any more.
2. What would you comment on this slide? Think by yourself before read below.
User bigger font. Highlight some parts, but not all, as that could frighten people.
Avoid sentence in your slide, as the audience will start to read and you lose their focus. To give a definition to Pathways is too formal. A statement like "A system to solve my real life problem" and follow with a story works better. The slide is to remind yourself. I notice Jeff's ppt use clear simple statement or phrase rather than ambiguous words to distract the audience.
3. When ask a question, always let the audience to answer first, to do this you need to show the question only first. 3 answers from the audience are good. "Interesting answer, fair enough, let's go to the point later" could be a good response depends on the answer.
4. Use personal story rather than illustrate facts and numbers.
Show exciting like how your pathway journey change you, make you different today.
Explain the value of award and recognition in Pathways like it inspires me to continue my journey when I see those recognition.
You could invite your members to provide additional feedback online. Find a story to demonstrate why it's valuable.
The best way to introduce Toastmaster history is to give your own story on how TM impact and change you.
5. Picture works better than words. Even arrange five points in a circle make it like a pic and better than five bullet points. Jeff drew the five connected circle on the glass wall and said "look, here is the secret. I will erase it right away". I realized this is his way to attract attention as he didn't erase it later. hehe.
6. The most key part is the benefit to the audience. Why is Pathways valuable to you?
7. One point one slide.
8. It's OK that only 50% of the audience agree with you. Be prepared to deal with the other 50% as well. For example when you say online material is a benefit of Pathways, think about those people who prefer to have a book, printing out is an option for them.
9. Visit www.Canva.com to get more insight on design your slides.
Delivery tips:
1. Be well prepared so don't look back on your slides too often. Know your point of each slide. You could do actual practice or imagine a piece of it every time you go to bathroom, or elsewhere.
2. Add excitement so people want to stay. Use inviting body language and avoid too stiff.
3. Voice, slow down and get your voice out of your abdomen and project to the top of your head (crown).
4. Present like a conversation with your friend.
To summary, there are four key steps to a WOW workshop: prepare, practice, get feedback and revise. We like to gain new tricks, but practice in real situation is the key. The easiest way is to practice those tricks in next table topic and roles in regular club meeting.
On my way home, I reflected what I had learned this afternoon. I used to love facts, logic, and data. I think these are powerful things. If I don't have these, I feel my point is weak. I realized in this afternoon that these things I loved so much could be a trash to others, distractive and not selling point at all. Wow! (Not Oh My God, I embrace new things quickly. ）
Jeff expected no new stuff in this workshop, however I do learn a lot of new things and I'm willing to apply in my next Pathways workshop to make it different.
How this will impact me in future? Time will tell.
When I arrived home, I saw this TI magazine. Wow, there are many other stories about Pathways we can share to inspire the audience.