Webinar

Three months ago, I resigned from SCORE.org. Instead, I focused on writing a book I’ve wanted to do for a few decades, now. There were other things that spurred the decision, but I have been out of the client loop now for a little over three months.

Today, I return to participate in a SCORE webinar. This one is a panel design and addresses nonprofits in general. My piece is about key strategies that will bolster success of the organization. Webinars are primarily educational. Presenters do best if they focus on client needs and mindsets. If paired well, the message is absorbed and helps the student. My task is to know this well enough to pass meaningful knowledge bits onto the students.

Being out of the loop for three months may be a barrier to this process. We shall see, but the risk of failure is worth it. Certainly, it is worth it to me because it is a critical tension that pulls the intellect into full action. If that is the case, the student gets an experience that truly teaches.

The risk of failure is key to success in this instance. Actually, risk is key to most things of value. I have learned during a lifetime of risk taking that learning is the clear result. Avoiding risk is the usual behavior for most of us, but avoiding the opportunity to take a risk eliminates the opportunity to learn.

Articulating an idea core to understanding a presentation, requires intellectual focus. It demands associating the lesson with the learner’s needs clearly in mind. The better the presenter knows the student’s needs, the easier it is to phrase the presentation. Focusing on the student comes first, then matching that need with the lesson to be passed on makes more sense. A connection forms and articulation of ideas flows. It is not automatic. It is a learned process from a lot of experience.

When the connection is made, I know it and feel it. Student reaction is almost always noticed from facial expressions and questions asked in follow up. The essential part is being open to student needs and their motivation to attend the class in the first place. Their questions provide key information on their mindset. The rest of the process is providing the information and ideas to satisfy the needs of attendees.

This may sound simple, but doing it requires focus and mental acuity. Being in practice helps. A three-month hiatus may be a challenge. I will see how much that challenge is today.

January 6, 2025

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Intimacy

As we mature, we become deeply involved in relationships. Some of this is basic family relations – siblings, parental – and the like. Next is friends who enter our homes and we theirs. Neighbors, classmates, mutual hobbyists and so forth. Then we develop friendships that go much deeper. We comfort one another when we are hurting physically or emotionally. We discuss the matters of life and learn much more about ourselves and each other. We can even anticipate how others will react to various situations and stimuli. Good friendships do not spread to everyone we know. No, good friendships are special, close and deeply personal. We focus attention and brainpower on these few friends. Some special relationships focus on specific topics of interest and importance. Yes, we have specialized friendships. Most common. But one day, we get to know one person very well. An emotional connection forms with deep roots. A need to know the person more fully expands in personal ways. We sense this b...
Read more

Bits & Pieces

Pie: Apple pie more specifically. With Thanksgiving just passed, many of us enjoyed a good apple pie. Sure, there was pumpkin to accompany the turkey, but in our family multiple pies are offered in the holidays. Apple is surely one. Pecan, pumpkin and others, too. But I almost always choose apple. When I was in college, I was asked what kind of pie did I eat most often. In front of my mom, I answered apple, because I was always looking for a pie as good as mom’s own. Of course my mother was pleased, but it was a true statement just the same. When I was married, Ann’s pie was darned good. Her mother’s recipe. But we fiddled with the recipe until it took on its own generational name, and boy, was it good! Today I still order apple pie for dessert because I am always looking for a great pie to challenge our family recipes. I rarely do find such a prize. Do others do the same? Do you search for a great pie of choice, continually? If you do, what’s your story? Why do you do this? ...
Read more

Remembering Tom Sherlock

Tom Sherlock died on Wednesday, April 3rd. He was 65 years old and did not survive a heart surgery. That was his unexpected end and sad enough. But there is more to his story. Tom joined Dan Schuyler and George Safford to create what became the Village Chronicles, a weekly newspaper serving Warrenville, Illinois. That paper expanded to serve Winfield and then West Chicago. The paper published for eight years and built a good reputation for itself. Tom served the paper in several ways. He was our information technology guru, provided hardware and software to support the paper's operations. He was our sole bookkeeper, accountant and financial manager. He designed our distribution process and provided office space for meetings and layout and typesetting. His efforts supported the work of 32 volunteers who wrote and reported on the communities we served.  The newspaper broke even financially most of the time, but it was a struggle. Tom managed to find money to keep the newspaper afloat...
Read more