Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/a-manner-of-speaking/5011181/
The presenter was enthusiastic, well-prepared, and competently working her way through her presentation. Her engaging personality and positive attitude added life to her stories and examples. About 45 minutes into the workshop, one of the participants interrupted, "You know, this is just great. This is what I really need to know!"Even though the presenter had been doing just fine, the comment changed her. There was an added sparkle to her words, a renewed enthusiasm for her subject. She didn't have to wonder if she was connecting - she knew.
And, if there were directors in the audience who were sitting on the fence about the subject, they, too, would have been changed by the comment. Any doubts or negative thoughts were challenged. Without a doubt, everyone in that room focused more clearly, listened more intently, and left with more information than if the woman had not spoken.
The power of one positive comment transformed an afternoon for 40 people.
When I attend the National Black Child Development Conference workshops, I enjoy the hum of approving comments that fuel the workshop experience. It's a response that we Scandinavians are not taught, but I ...