In the article ‘put down the script, Marquart, and Sorden (2007) advices trainers to avoid using a trainer’s manual as it makes the training session like a dictation class. Instead of over relying on the training manual, authors advice trainers to tailor their presentation with regard to 10 tips. First, the leaders’ guide should be far to avoid temptation of looking into it. Second, the agenda should be on the wall whereas the audience should not see the accompanying notes. Third, the trainer should make the presentation visible. Fourth, the trainer should summarize the information on a one page cheat-sheet. The cheat acts as a reference point instead of the training guide.
Fifth, the trainer should position objects related to the topic on the table in front of the room to enhance comprehension. Sixth, trainers should place a welcome sign to promote friendliness and create a warm environment. The sign should involve visual clues. Seventh, the trainer should use different colors to bring out each point. Eighth, the trainer should ensure the audience has workbooks or binders to enable them ascertain what will be covered. The trainer should place sticky notes into the trainees’ workbooks to guide them thereby holding their interest.
Finally, the trainer should post the flip chart on the wall in time to prepare the audience avoid wasting time during the transition. During the presentation, the trainers should also avoid obvious mistakes. They include failing to provide refreshment, blocking the screen, giving the audience an excuse to shun listening, ending late, failing to include a lesson in the story, and failing to give a room for both positive and negative comments.
I agree with the writer of the article about effective presentation. The authors emphasize on providing effective presentation without using a training guide directly. The trainer is supposed to communicate with the audience by acting as a source of the resource being presented. This means if the trainer will read directly from the guide, he or she will not be acting like a resource guide but rather as a facilitator in a dictation class. In this case, the audience will opt to read for themselves rather than enduring the session.
However, I disagree with the authors’ idea of leaving the manual behind. The manual should be within the access of the trainer but out of sight of the audience. In case an issue beyond the scope of the trainer arises, he or she will access it from the manual. This means the trainer should refrain from reading directly from the training manual but have it ready for references in case a need arises.
The information in this article is consistent with my prior knowledge of presentation, but for a small deviation. Most of the authors’ tips fall within the confines of the knowledge of effective PowerPoint presentation, holding audience attention, and managing the stage. However, the idea of leaving the training manual behind is not consistent with prior knowledge but is a very useful inclusion.
I will apply the authors’ information in my future presentations. I will avoid referring to the training manual when doing my presentations. To achieve this, I will use the authors’ idea of creating a cheat-page summary of the entire information to act as a reference guide.
I recommend this article to a friend. It provides a fresh challenge to the traditional method of presentation. By reading this article, he or she will be challenged to avoid using a training manual during presentation and instead use the tips given in this article to improve presentation skills.
References
Marquart, M., & Sorden, A. (2007). Put Down the Script. T+D, 61 (4), 26.