Have you ever delivered a well-prepped, fine-tuned, engaging presentation to a group of people….who were drinking?
I was very excited about my recent opportunity to speak at an annual conference of women business owners! And I was quite pleased with my thorough preparation: I knew the makeup of the audience, I had a solid idea of their concerns, and was prepared to provide value that spoke directly to those concerns.
I did not, however, think to ask if this event could possibly turn out to be their annual let’s-spend-last-dollars-of-the-budget-on-wine-get-together. Oh, the things they don’t teach in school!
Tackling the topic of time management and effectively organizing paper is challenging enough, but who the heck wants to hear about those topics when you’re socializing and enjoying a glass (or three) of Pinot Grigio with colleagues you only get to see once a year?
Fortunately, I was able to hold their attention for the full 45 minute presentation because I kept things a heck of a lot more interactive and casual than I would have if there weren’t bottles of wine on the table. “Yay!” for being able to speak off the cuff and turn potentially boring information into an opportunity of sharing, practicing and laughter.
Lesson learned: When presented with my next speaking opportunity, I won’t presume the event is like others I’ve been to. I will ask questions. Many questions. Even possibly uncomfortable questions.
This experience was valuable, forcing me to step up the level of engagement in my presentations, but I’d rather avoid surprises like this one in the future!
