At the End of the Day, You Have to Be Yourself

Last week, I gave a talk on twenty-first century recruitment and retention at the American Society of Training and Development’s annual conference in San Diego.  While I was there, I attended a few “train the trainer” sessions on improving your technique for delivering educational content in the workplace.  The guys (they were all men) have been doing this for more years than many of you have been alive, and they’ve accumulated some noteworthy wisdom.  For example, in order to get participants engaged immediately, you should open with an activity that has them talking to each other AND is relevant to the session.  You should organize your content into easily digestible, 20 minute chunks, and have them celebrate their own learning at the end. 

I did take issue, however, with the advice that corporate training is “theater” and that every facilitator must act accordingly.  It’s not in every person’s nature to run back and forth from the front of the room to the back, waving your arms as you keep the audience on edge with a dramatic story that may or may not have actually happened to you.  This entertainment-driven approach obviously works for these guys – they all performed to standing-room only crowds.  But I think that no matter what job you have, in communicating with others you have to play to your strengths.  I, for example, relate to my twenty-something audiences by talking to them as if they were my friends.  I give them honest examples of my failures and my successes, and I don’t knock them over the head with my delivery.  If I did this, given my naturally low-key demeanor, I would look foolish.  

A theatrical style may motivate people to listen to you, but sincerity and relatability motivates them to take what you say to heart. 

 

Comments

[Alexandra Levit]

Lindsey, Erika, and Soul: Thanks for the support. I have to confess that I was feeling a little weird not hanging on these guys' every word like everyone else in the audience. I do think it's easier to see how the super-theatrical style can work when someone is doing it well.

[The Soul Sorority]

That's so true. I agree with you...you have to play to your strengths. If you try and be someone else, you end up irritating the audience, I think, and losing their trust. Thanks for the post!

[Lindsey Pollak]

Alex, this is such a good point. Authenticity is so important when it comes to training, public speaking, leadership, job interviews or anything. People can see right through any sort of acting or faking. You have to be yourself -- the best, most engaging, most dynamic side of yourself, but always yourself.

One of the reasons I admire you is because you are always authentically Alex.

Thanks for another great post,
Lindsey

Lindsey Pollak
Author, "Getting from College to Career"
www.lindseypollak.com/blog

[Erika]

What a wise perspective! I agree that it's silly to try to change who you are to adopt someone else's style. For example, if I tried the running around shouting method I'd wind up being unintentionally funny when I collapsed on-stage from sheer exertion!