Presentation Superhero: Peter Parker
Peter Parker was a high school kid bitten by a radioactive spider. The bite imbued him with special powers. He wasn’t pursuing the special powers, but he could not deny their existence. There were times when he wished them gone or wished he could use them selfishly and not feel guilty.
When these wishes came, a specific memory would confront them. The gentle voice of Uncle Ben would echo in his mind.
With great power comes great responsibility.
When you prepare and deliver a big presentation, it can feel a little overwhelming, perhaps even a little intimidating. When this happens, it is important to remember that you have the power of influence.
Someone has faith in you. They entrusted you with power. They gave you a platform. You have an opportunity to share information, experience, and guidance.
You are a presentation superhero. Words move things. You have power. And with that power comes responsibility.
Big Presentations in Small Rooms will help you fulfill that responsibility. It will equip you to make the best use of the power entrusted to you. It will help you honor the time given to you. It will teach you to discover and meet the needs of your audience. You will learn to be clear, relevant, and appropriately energetic. You can become a presentation superhero.
For the Peter Parkers among us, the challenge is to step up and overcome fear. Your responsibility is to say more than you normally would and to do so with more confidence than comes naturally. It isn’t easy, but it is possible. And it is your responsibility.
Presentation Superhero: Tony Stark
On the other end of the spectrum is another character from comics. Tony Stark is Iron Man. How do we know? He told us so in a press conference. It was not a surprise that he would do so, because Tony Stark exudes confidence and revels in the spotlight. He doesn’t have trouble speaking; he has trouble listening.
And listening is part of our responsibility.
As Steven Covey is well known for saying,
“Seek first to understand then to be understood.”
Big Presentations in Small Rooms will challenge you to prepare. You do not know at it all, so there is much to learn. It will challenge you to discover the thoughts, perspectives, fears, and joys of each person in your audience. This book will encourage you to embrace the reality that other voices matter. You will learn to be approachable, curious, and empathetically engaged with your audience. You will become a presentation superhero!
For the Tony Starks among us, the challenge is to step back and refuse the temptation to hog the spotlight and say too much. Your responsibility is to say less than you usually would. And to do so with more humility than comes naturally. It is hard to shut up and get off the stage and listen to the voices of those around you. It isn’t easy, but it is possible. And it is your responsibility.
Presentation Superhero: You
Wherever you are at on this presentation superhero spectrum, Big Presentations in Small Rooms will equip you to do what the best heroes do—serve others with confident humility. This service involves listening, preparing, and speaking. My hope is that you will heroically pursue your hope. Presentations are one way to do this. Let’s get started!
Your pursuit will benefit from this blog!
To learn even more, order Big Presentations in Small Rooms.
Who are your favorite superheroes?
What lessons can they teach us about being a presentation superhero?
