Useing Humour in presentations

Public Speaking - Loose the Sexist Language

 

I have been to a few events in the past where the speaker has uses inappropriate language. The use of sexist language is something you must be careful to avoid in order to be in tune with today's society.

There is an excellent section about this topic in the book Speak Like a Pro by Margaret Bedrosian. She laks about how language changes:

A salesman is now a salesperson.
A fireman is now a firefighter.
You don't look for a chairman for a meeting, you look for someone to chair the meeting or a chairperson. You must be very careful in your use of humour in these PC lead times.

Your audience may get hung up on a word or a phrase.  What usually happens is the ‘tune you out ‘ stop listening because they are offended.  Use of humour, while lifting a presentation can offend, especially political, religious and sexist humour.  These are three topics where people often have strong feeling.

I attended a sports club's formal dinner at Oxford University some time ago.  The speaker was a man in his 50’s who had been responsible for founding the club in the early 70's.   He was due to speak about the struggle he had getting the sport established.   This he did quite quickly and entertyainingly.  He then filled the rest of the time with overtly sexist student stories. As you may guess this did not please the women in the audience, how times change women at sports club dinners!!!!!   One by one the women in the audience left the room as they were offended by his humour.


This can happen and there is nothing more deflating than see you audience head for the door.   One last point.  This speaker used a phrase that unless you are a highly skilled and vastly experienced comedian, you should avoid.  As three women walked past him on their way to the door, he said “Was it something I said?”

Presenting and speaking mean you amend your behaviour and style to fit the audience.  Do whatever you want with your friends, but if you persist in any of these behaviours you will be labelled as "out-of-touch" and your chance to become an acknowledged expert has gone forever.

Paul Johnstone is the founder of

The Paradigm Shakers

Providers of Thought Provoking Training

Delivered by Subject Matter Experts

http://www.paradigmshakers.co.uk/

©Paul Johnstone; The Paradigm Shakers

P.S I appreciate feed back and comments

Better knowledge for women in business

Well the governments of the south sea islands seem to be suggestion in a piece in the Fiji Times.

THE expansion of business knowledge just got better for women of the Pacific following a pilot program on business advisory.
At the Secretariat of the South Pacific's Community Education Training Centre, 20 women from the region graduated in business training at national level.

Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Peter Forau said at the closing ceremony of the 12 day program, the graduates join 120 other women that were trained through CETC since 2004.

Such an achievement enabled the provision and maintenance of business training to many women at national level, he said.

"The fact that CETC has seen it fit to focus on business training for women is applauded and shows the quality of the thought process that is invested in the design of the centre's training program," Mr Forau said.

He hailed the centre for its focus on meaningful and worthwhile training activities that could positively change the lives of women and communities.

"As the saying goes - the wealth of our women is also the wealth of all.

"The bigger lesson though is what difference will the skills you have gained make in your own lives?

"Use the skills to your advantage, help other women develop and become leaders in the development of our communities."

So why are the UK so far behind?  Training is the recognised way to improve skills.  Or best expressed through the phrase “Knowledge is King”  If you believe as I do that write to your
MP their email address is

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

Ask them why in a time of economic slow down, so little is being spent on training.


To your success in Business

Paul Johnstone

www.paradigmshakers.co.uk/