Category: Human Resources

Running a presentation skills seminar at a large federal agency’s training forum, I was impressed by how much learning takes place when participants share ideas in a Power Point-free environment.

I found this post on my LinkedIn Training and Development group and some of the responses given by professional trainers and speakers gave me pause. The responses were simple and direct answers of knowing when learning takes place. There can be clues, but no one really knows when learning occurs. This is what gave me pause. And, when I “pause,” I blog. It’s a bit like cursing at a motorist who cuts in front of you, making you drive defensively by applying your brakes before you really want to. Some people curse, I blog.

Many of the responses to the post above, I’m sure, were thoroughly thought out before being taken to the pen, but in the process of trying to sound intellectual and knowing, the responders lost something basic. At least I found something missing. Maybe the forums, while great formats for discussion, are not so good for the final answers. Are we ashamed to say that learning and effective communication are complex, and we don’t have all the answers? More than likely, I think, some of the writers were lost in trying to find one perfect approach to learning. Finding a simple, guaranteed approach to learning for all participants is no simple task. In my mind anyway. It is enough just to communicate well.

Here’s my perspective:

As trainers, we naturally have to be concerned with the amount of information that is actually absorbed by the people we are training. The same goes for presenters. Learning takes place internally. We can only facilitate it. To try to find a way to ensure it happens is something akin to plugging into our brain’s learning center and transferring information. As far as I know, that’s still science fiction.

We could be closer than I know technologically and I could be wrong, but aren’t we trainers and presenters better served concentrating on what we can to facilitate learning be it through inspiration or motivation, or by outlining the details to make them more accessible? Look back to my post on Training Sessions and Seminars: Who Should Do Most of the Talking? We can try to be all things to all people, but certainly not at the same time. I doubt we can be either, but being the best we can be (please pardon the cliche) is what we need to do. If you want to know what the audience has learned, give them a test, or…I don’t know…ask them. I do. It’s part of the communication process.

The impact of the knowledge presented is related to so many factors, all of which have to do with communication. Even the test is suspicious because of experimenter or tester bias, where the tested individual wants to please the tester and is, therefore, likely to give an answer that is expected rather than a true answer. Tester bias is a natural human behavior phenomenon that is very difficult to eliminate completely. Tell your audiences what you want them to get out of your presentation and there is a good chance they’ll tell you that’s what they got out of it.

Good communicators constantly look for feedback. I am a fan of PowerPoint but I know many a presenter who use it spoon feed information and think just because they present content on a visual, it is received, noted and remembered. A receptive and appreciative audience alone is no gauge.

I think some presenters and speakers think their every word is relished by the audience, evidenced by a laugh or a nod, and would be surprised to find out relatively little real information has reached them. Sometimes it’s not about information but inspiration, motivation, interest, a professional need to be in attendance, etc. I know trainers who do all the right things and are tuned out by their trainees who are not drawn to them as people, so even “chemistry” plays a part.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

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For more resources about training, see the Training library.

What does an actor have to teach an attorney? Acting, improvisation, communicating, moving on stage. Sounds like an acting class. Don’t be surprised. It is.

Most of us would agree a lawyer’s education is mostly about the law; but the practical application of law requires research, practice, experience and some knowledge of speech and acting skills that may not be taught in depth in most law schools–just few classes on courtroom procedure, some mock trials, etc.

Those who will be spending time in court could use training in public speaking, interpersonal communication skills, social psychology, etc., and some lawyers do take those classes in college because they know they will be important someday. For others, even if they took the courses, they may have blown them off, seeing them as “fluff” classes. We’ve all done that. You only have so much time, right?

“After all, I’m going to be a lawyer–a mouthpiece. I can learn all I need to learn in law school,” or words to that effect–or so they say.

Let’s face it. Not everyone is a natural communicator. Sometimes you need a different approach. In this case, we’ll start with acting principles. Actors have to make real what is conceived and written in a script. Lawyers take what they know to be the truth and convey that to an audience convincingly. If they can’t be convincing with the truth…

It’s all about knowing your audience, knowing your subject and knowing yourself. If you’ve ready many of my blogs you know that is my mantra. At the heart of every communication is a need for all three elements. While some people are more natural communicators, others with fine minds as well may not be. You know about getting the training you need to do the job. Those who do get the training and learn will succeed. And, so it goes here as well if you are lawyer needing to communicate the law and persuade the jury to your way of thinking, a way any audience can understand.

So, how does a litigator gain those communication skills that help him win over a judge and jury, how does an attorney present depositions to court, help a witness remain credible, even though he or she may be scared to death of being on the courtroom stage. Believe it or not, he hires an actor. Often that actor may be partnered with an attorney or someone with a similar background.

In the Philadelphia area, I discovered an equity actor and educator, Celeste Walker who teaches a course she developed called Courtroom Drama, which almost sounds like a theatre genre, but in reality her course is designed to loosen up attorneys and prepare them for the practical uses of confident and effective communication in the courtroom. She uses theatre exercises, warm-ups, improvisation and other methods leading up to storytelling. After all, in a courtroom, it is all about storytelling.

“It’s also about audience,” Walker says.

“An attorney can’t talk to a jury if he or she isn’t aware of who makes up that jury. He has to win that jury’s trust and he’s not going to do that if he talks down to them or can’t look them in the eye while he is talking to them.”

It’s all about good communication. Yet, another job an actor can do–besides acting.

An interesting aside. I was surprised to learn that Celeste had actually performed a scene from The Verdict with Paul Newman in 1994 while she was in graduate school. Newman’s much acclaimed film, The Verdict, came out in the ’80s. Celeste holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from The Actor’s Studio Drama School at the New School University in New York.

This isn’t just a Philadelphia phenomenon. Look around. There are other actors/educators engaged in the same business. If you are an attorney and are interested, look up the acting and presentation coaches in your area who might have a similar course to suit you. If you aren’t an attorney, but anyone in need of good communication skills in the course of doing a good job, check out those acting and presentation coaches anyway.

Good trainers are good communicators, and it can work both ways. We all need to be able to talk to and understand each other. In court, a misunderstanding has a lot of impact. The same goes for hospitals. Do doctors need training in communicating to patients and colleagues? Hmm. Maybe that’s my next blog.

As always, comments, suggestions, praise if you think we’re doing something right here, as well as links to your blogs and websites are always welcome.

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For more resources about training, see the Training library.