How many ppt mistakes can one guest speaker make?
21 June 2007I would love to send this video to a guest speaker at a recent dinner I attended. Despite his credentials as a ‘world expert’ on his topic and the importance of his message it was all pretty much lost on me because of his ppt presentation that, no kidding, included every one of these don’ts.
Facilitator Language
17 June 2007Earlier this year, Andrew and Sascha Rixon and I collaborated on a paper about facilitator language. It was published in the IAF Journal (you can download a copy of the paper here. Our major finding was that there actually is a special type of language that facilitators use that is different from other ‘business’ or…
Friday’s Random thoughts
15 June 2007Today I had lunch with Brian Bainbridge (of open Space fame) and Mick Walsh – also an open space buddy. We talked about the misnomer of ‘best practice’ – that as soon as something is branded ‘best practice’ it isn’t anymore. We thought ‘current practice’ was a better description. On the train travelling to Melbourne…
Technology Explained
13 June 2007I love using technology but rarely have any idea how or why it works – and the complexity gets too much for me sometimes. I’ve just gone wireless at home and am loving it! This video on Wiki’s in Plain English is simply brilliant – a great way of using technology to explain technology. I’m…
Yak Shaving
11 June 2007I know – it’s a bit out of date – but I’ve been partaking of a spot of yak shaving lately as I explore others’ blogs. A link here takes me there and another link somewhere else and before you know it I’ve wandered well away from my original task. But in the meantime I’ve…
Conversation #1
8 June 2007Me: I’ve started a blog. Him: What’s a blog? Me: It’s a web log – blog – get it? *Pause* Him: You mean on the internet? Me: Yes Him: Why? Me: Because I like reading blogs – I want to contribute too – I want somewhere to archive my scatty ideas – I want a…
Phatic communications
8 June 2007OMG! I haven’t heard this term since I did communications theory at Uni and here it is. Good point though – about human interactions being about relationships, and not just networks.
What makes a good facilitator? – Part 1
8 June 2007I was just reading a birding mag and it struck me that the skills required to be a good birdwatcher – patience, knowing where to look, knowing what distinguising features to look for, having an idea of the terrain and likely birds you’ll encounter, having a good field guide to check your observations, and travelling…
Nothing focuses the mind like a deadline
7 June 2007Last night I received a request for our fledgling improv group Script Bare to do a repeat performance at the Anglesea One Act Play Festival (we perform while the judges are making their decisions about winners/awards etc). It’s a bit scary because it’s on a real stage with a real audience, AND it’s exciting too.…
Having something to say
5 June 2007While I get used to having a blog I’m reminded of someone saying somewhere (can’t remember where I saw it) that the internet tends to amplify our character traits – those of us who are introverted become more so, and those of us who are more social do that. What does being introverted/social mean on…