Getting and Applying Great Ideas at Great Ideas
By Jodie Slaughter
I was lucky to be asked to facilitate a program on the ethical implications of generating non-dues income at both of this year’s Great Ideas conferences. The conference, put on by ASAE & the Center for Association Leadership, was held in Florida in December and San Diego in February. The destinations were terrific. I saw old friends, made new contacts and—most importantly—got some great ideas.
While I learned many things, such as how innovations often occur at cultural crossroads and the forces that shape the Gen X psyche, the session I was able to apply most immediately was Speak Like the Pros by Gary Rifkin.
In our work at McKinley we are often asked to design programs, facilitate meetings and deliver presentations, so I am quite comfortable with public speaking. However, there is always room for improvement. I came away from Gary’s session with many great tips on engaging the audience. For example, starting your speech with, “Thank you for having me here today,” is typically a waste of time. The people in the room almost certainly had nothing to do with your being asked to speak. Attendees want to hear things that are relevant to them. Starting the speech with a dynamic statement that has wide appeal and gets people interested should have better results.
I also learned that repeating a greeting, such as “good morning” several times to get people to listen in order to begin a session is ineffective. It typically annoys the folks who are listening and does little to bring the others in. Nothing will stop the talking in the room faster than beginning your presentation in a voice low enough that the talkers will either stop and listen, or be asked to stop by other attendees.
The session went on to address the presentation as a whole, and how to end on a positive note. Instead of trolling for questions at the end, take questions and then have a prepared finish in mind that summarizes your talk. This tactic leaves attendees with the main points and takeaways fresh in their minds, rather than, “well… if there’s nothing else, thanks.”
I was able to apply what I learned almost immediately to my own presentation at Great Ideas. I went to Gary’s session before mine at the first Great Ideas conference, and as a result, made a few changes to my presentation. Overall, I feel my presentation was more effective and resonated more with the audience. In my future presentations, I will continue to incorporate what I learned, and I’m sure the association and the meeting attendees will be glad I learned valuable tips and tools at ASAE’s Great Ideas Conference.
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