This is the beginning of our learning & development web log, or blog, as it is now commonly known. We’ll be previewing different skills on the blog as we go along, but first of all, some thoughts about conversational skills in general.
For all conversations that are more than just normal chat, you should be doing more preparation outside of the room than you might think. If the amount of preparation is represented as a wedge shape – we tend to do a small amount of preparation (the thin end of the wedge) before the conversation and then expect ourselves to do masses of preparation once the converation is underway (the thick end of the wedge), and we are trying to speak at the same time. This is the time when you think, “now, what did Celia say about negotiation skills?”.
That is making life very hard for yourself! Your preparation time should be, as a general rule, 3:1. 3 hours preparation for a 1-hr negotiation or influencing skills meeting, for example. 1 hour for a giving a 20-minute seminar, and that’s if you are already very familiar with the content. So, dig out those course notes the day before and give your brain a head-start.
Mark Twain said, “I was going to write you a short letter, but I didn’t have time, so I wrote you a long one instead.” The shorter the presentation or meeting, the more efficient you have to be, and the longer you will have to prep.
If you would like help preparing for a conversation or presentation, I see people individually for coaching. Just give me a call on 01392 82 6127.
See our website for more on us at www.delaneyandhart.co.uk
All the best & happy prepping,
Celia Delaney
Celia Delaney's Blog 