Toastmasters at Work....A Successful Presentation

I missed today's regular Buffalo meeting.....but I spent the same time doing a 30-minute presentation followed by questions.  As some of you know I work for the U.S. Geological Survey -- specifically with a group focused on a national water database.  It's okay if you just said to yourself "BORING!!"  To say the least, the presentations are typically just information sharing...this one was a status update on a long-term IT project.

I had put powerpoint slides together (simple yet informative) and asked management to review them for the last couple of weeks.  I had to get the headset and microphone set up because I would be talking to ~20 people in the room and an equal number on the phone.  At the same time the presentation was being done over the internet.

You can almost imagine me looking like I was from outer space with all the technical devices hooked to me!

The presentation went well and I got to address a few questions afterwards.

The best part was at the end when folks in the room actually started clapping.  Did you read the part about "BORING" above?  I was stunned and pleasantly surprised.

To top it off, my boss caught me in the hallway on the way out and said, "I need to make sure you know how professional you just looked.  If other employees of the USGS attended Toastmasters we would be in such a better place as an organization."

On the one hand, scientists and engineers are not known as being great presenters.....I think Walter said that recently too?.....so the bar to exceed that expectation is not very high.  On the other hand, to be recognized for something that I think is important, but not supported widely within my agency was really great.

Thanks to all my fellow Buffaloes for helping me to become someone who is noticed for her presentation skills!!  Without such great examples to learn from and to push me, I would not be the presenter I am.