It’s funny how things happen. Tonight, I’m doing a presentation, and this morning via the Selling to Big Companies blog, I came across a post by Michael Hyatt, Pres. and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers all about preparing for a presentation, in it, he outlines the "Seven Levels of Preparation":
"Hi my name is Mike, and I’m a prepaholic.” If there was a support group for people who over-prepare, I would be a charter member.
Much of my job involves making presentations—to boards, banks, investors, authors, agents, customers, employees, vendors, the media—you name it. Each one of these represents an opportunity to make a “brand impression,” for myself and for the company I represent.
I’m not sure where I learned to prepare for these meetings. I’m sure much of it comes from my desire to exceed people’s expectations or perhaps, negatively, out of a fear of being embarrassed. Regardless, it drives me to prepare relentlessly.
I had a big presentation today in New York. Last night, I was talking with my oldest daughter. When I told her how much time I had spent preparing she laughed. “Dad, you so over-prepare. You always do a great job. Why don’t you just relax and learn to trust that.”
I thought for a minute and then replied, “The reason I do a good job is because I prepare. I don’t believe in ‘winging it’.”
I don’t like to "wing it" either. I have also always prepared, but have often felt that I overprepared (and was probably stiffer because I was trying to stick to the script as it were) yet I continue to prepare; funny isn’t it?
About a month ago, I had an experience that caused me to wonder if all the preparing I did was serving me. I was at a business meeting. The speaker of the day was a no show, and they asked for a volunteer. Seeing this as an opportunity to challenge myself, I raised my hand.
I proceeded to talk completely off the cuff…and it worked! Interestingly enough, it felt like it worked better than one I had prepared endlessly for.
What did this bring up for me?
I only speak about things I know about and deal with all the time, often many times a day with many different clients, in fact much of coaching is improvising, responding and asking questions based upon whatever the client is throwing at you, in the moment. So why am I so reluctant to let go and improvise?
How much preparation do you need?
-Susan Martin, would be improvisor and business coach
