Chapter 9
Nature versus nurture
Presenting is a skill, it is not a talent, a gift or a gene we are born with.
All too often when I run a course I meet individuals who assert to me that presenting is a talent or a gift rather than a skill like learning to play an instrument, drive a car or play a sport. ‘You either have it or you don’t!’ they tell me.
These individuals believe the great speakers of our time just stood up and spoke off the cuff dismissing the years of dedication, priority and preparation that has been put in. I assure them that if they were really speaking off the cuff they would certainly not be hailed as the great speakers of our time but rambling, unprepared generalists with no message or impact.
Great presenters are like ...
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