I’ve had a splendid week, teaching my favourite subject, storytelling.
And not just once, but three times.
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To entrepreneurs at the Cambridge Judge Business School, to help them with leadership communication…
To early career researchers at the University of Cambridge, to help spread word of the work…
And to the wonderful learners from around the world on my course, Compelling Communication Skills, to help them shape of the world of tomorrow.
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Here’s a story about a lovely experience I’ve enjoyed several times this week while teaching…
Why to look out for it when you’re giving a talk or presentation…
And - most importantly - why it should mean so much.
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Those who have suffered my teaching will know I don’t overly rely on slides.
I use them only to illustrate the most important points.
The principle behind this is simple:
Your talk should make sense, even if the slideshow suddenly failed.
It’s there to enhance understanding, not to lean on desperately, the way a drunk grabs at a lamp post.
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So when I do use a slide, I try to ensure two things:
- That it contains a striking image, to ensure attention.
- It sums up the point, simply, sharply, and hopefully, memorably.
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Here’s an example, when I was reinforcing the fundamental power of storytelling...
And how to leave space for the audience to imagine, the beautiful technique of lacuna.
What is she thinking?
More importantly, how much debate has there been about that over the years?
And why so much talk about one single expression, in one painting, which has made it so very celebrated...
Because of the mystery of the story behind the smile, the space to imagine.
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And here comes the point of this blog, the BIG MOMENT.
For that lacuna slide, and indeed quite a few others I used…
Many of the group got out their phones and took a photo of them.
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Did I mind, I was asked.
(This is Cambridge, the learners are lovely and polite.)
- Did I heck! I loved it.
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Because taking photos of my slides is, for me, a great accolade and a lovely moment in a talk.
Far too many presentations are forgotten the moment they’re finished, and - to be brutal - quite often well before that.
But when you have an audience taking photos of your thoughts…
That’s when you know you're truly making an impression.
