Help needed

[Mgator]

I've been chosen to speak at my companies national convention on the topic Getting organized for increased productivity" I've been practicing GTD for several years, but I'm not the greatest at public speaking, especially in front of my peers. We are in a sales organization, and GTD has helped me greatly. I'm just looking for ideas to share in a 30 minute presentation.
Any help is appreciated.
Regards

[TesTeq]

Use my GTD Dominoes.

[Mgator]

I'm not a GTD Connect member so I can't access.

[TesTeq]

I'm not a GTD Connect member so I can't access.

There's a free GTD Connect trial at https://secure.davidco.com/connect/free/14days.

[hadingrh]

Same as OP, I have a same problem when I talk to public. Maybe because of lack of preparations and materials to present with. I hope GTD could help organize me better.

[MarkDillon]

Public speaking is, for many, one of the most challenging things to do. Long story short, I used to be terrified of public speaking and now I love it.

How did I overcome it? First, I had to do it so I was forced to practice. Second, I attended many Toastmasters evenings and worked on my presentation.

Today I still get the chance to do public speaking several times a month and I am very relaxed. Every now and then a moment of fear arises but it quickly passes by the time I actually start speaking.

Knowing your subject is a big advantage. Since you've been doing GTD for a number of years you will be well prepared on the topic. I remember with Toastmasters one of the practices was to get up and talk on any subject that was given to you. It was fun to try and be 'on' when you are just winging it.

Being in sales you will find what you learn from public speaking will only benefit you in your professional life.

[TesTeq]

Knowing your subject is a big advantage.

Isn't it the key? Maybe not but I would feel very uncomfortable if I had to speak about the subject I know nothing about.

[treelike]

I'm just looking for ideas to share in a 30 minute presentation.
Any help is appreciated.
Regards

I would be so tempted start a presentation on being organised by pretending to lose my notes- and then "find" them in a back pocket. A touch of humor goes a long way in public speaking and helps put the audience at ease. I might then go on to make a serious point about preparation and how difficult it would have been to do my talk if I really had lost my notes. If you don't feel confident then you could admit that you're not good at public speaking and say "thank goodness I've got my notes", which might at least raise some smiles.

My suggestion is make it personal. Describe any outstanding failures in organisation you have experienced or witnessed, in as much detail as necessary to make them amusing and what would have prevented them with what you know now. I wouldn't try to "sell" GTD but simply mention in passing that it's the system you personally chose to organise your stuff. There's plenty of concepts in GTD you can describe without actually mentioning GTD- getting stuff out of your head, you can only do things when you're in the right context to do them, aligning activity with goals, when not to use a system (two minute rule).

The advantage of making it personal is that you know more about it than anyone else. And it is based on truth, warts and all, and the audience will appreciate and identify with that. Also it makes it simple and original which is good for a subject that can sometimes be rather dry and convoluted to discuss.

...Actually, having thought about it, maybe selling GTD is exactly what you should do with your presentation. After all, it's what you do and what your organisation is all about. Framing it as a sales pitch might be appreciated by your particular audience. Who knows, if you can demonstrate how GTD concepts can help with the current challenges your organisation is struggling with, how doing stuff before it needed done could have helped with getting that deal, etc, someone upstairs might listen- and you might even earn some brownie points.

[MarkDillon]

Isn't it the key? Maybe not but I would feel very uncomfortable if I had to speak about the subject I know nothing about.

By practicing speaking on a topic you know little about you gain confidence in your ability to be in front of others. Like any good practicing you need to be in a safe, supported group. The Toastmasters events were set up to allow you to be with others who were practicing and who were also talking about a topic they knew nothing or little about.

Once you can get in front of a group and talk about something new to you speaking on a topic you know is easy!