The Case of the Self-Aware Presenter

According to a 2012 University of Iowa study, self-awareness is not contained to certain areas of the brain. Instead, it involves several pathways dispersed throughout the various regions of the brain. So although the insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex remain a vital component of self-awareness, researchers discovered that the brainstem, thalamus, and posteromedial cortices have a hand in the action. The greatest part about self-awareness is that there are ways to accelerate it in individuals who are ready to begin practicing the skill.

At Ethos3, every staff member is challenged to increase their self-awareness. Even before the company hires an individual, they are given a Predictive Index (PI) assessment, which reveals who you are as your truest self, as well as how much you are able to adjust different characteristics in particular situations. The PI assesses dominance, extroversion, patience, and structure. It also measures a person’s decision-making process and responsiveness. Why is the PI assessment so important to our company? Because it enables management to hire people who are best suited for not only the role they applied for, but also for the workplace environment in general. But the influence of self-awareness extends far beyond the workplace – impacting presentations immensely. An audience’s presentation experience varies greatly depending on whether the presenter is self-aware or not. Below are 5 qualities of the self-aware presenter:

1. Recognizes strengths and weaknesses

The self-aware presenter understands his or her strengths and weaknesses. Using this knowledge, he or she builds a presentation focused on leveraging the strengths and minimizing the weaknesses. When a self-aware presenter is structuring a deck and developing a presentation narrative, he or she will consider the aspects of design and delivery in which he or she excels or fails. For example, if design isn’t a presenter’s forte, that individual will either stick to a minimalist look and feel or enlist the support of a presentation design company. The presenter lacking self-awareness attempts to do everything on his or her own – to the detriment of the presentation and eager audience. Controlling every part of a project, even when one section or task could be completed better and faster with another’s assistance, is a sure sign of a self-awareness deficit.

2. Adjusts delivery to audience needs

In addition to creating presentations that accurately display their strengths and hide their weaknesses, a self-aware presenter also has the capacity to alter his or her presentation delivery in response to audience reactions. If a person knows how he or she reacts to different instances, that person is better able to prepare for unplanned events and moments. Perception is closely linked to self-awareness, so a presenter with this skill will recognize when the audience is bored or disinterested in a specific activity or presentation topic.

3. Assumes a leadership role

A 2012 Hay Group research project found that women in executive positions are more self-aware than their male counterparts. From wielding empathy and managing conflict adroitly to exuding influence and demonstrating self-awareness, women surpass men in the execution of each. While women may be more naturally inclined to be self-aware, men possess the skill as well. In the case of the self-aware presenter, the quality is essential to establishing a leadership presence throughout the course of a presentation. A 2013 study of self-awareness and other tenets of authentic leadership in the realm of business coaching discovered the following:

The Case of the Self-Aware Presenter

Source: Authentic Leadership: The Role of Self-Awareness in Promoting Coaching Effectiveness

In a presentation setting where a presenter is ultimately attempting to educate, inspire, persuade, and entertain, the possession of authentic leadership qualities breeds an environment ripe for engaging audiences. It will create a collaborative space for the audience – encouraging them to participate in the flow of information.

4. Handles feedback confidently

A self-aware presenter is adept at facilitating Q&A sessions, discussions, and post-presentation feedback activities. If a presenter obtained a high result in the area of responsiveness following a PI assessment, it means that he or she is capable of receiving constructive criticism without reacting negatively by lashing out or getting angry. The self-aware presenter will likely preface a Q&A or feedback session by telling the audience that he or she respects their opinions and wants to hear anything that will help him or her grow and improve. On the other hand, the presenter without self-awareness will be crushed by negative feedback or any type of criticism. They will likely bully audience members who provide this feedback or criticism, become increasingly defensive, or even take a passive aggressive stance.

5. Implements reflection

An essential element of self-awareness is reflection – looking at yourself or a situation and analyzing actions taken or behaviors displayed in order to take that knowledge and use it to improve in the future. A self-aware presenter will already be thinking with this mindset when creating his or her presentation. An audience member can expect to hear a conclusion focused on reflection on the presentation topic. Let’s say the presentation is about how a journalist used a certain resource to uncover a trend and write a compelling story to incite change in a community. The journalist is presenting to the audience about the resource and why they should employ it. The journalist, who we will assume is a self-aware presenter, would conclude her talk by reflecting on the positive outcomes the resource provided for her throughout the course of her writing journey. She would reflect on how she might have used the tool differently and how she will take what she has learned to write better stories moving forward. With this progression detailed, she would then insert a call to action, which might be to urge the audience to find ways to utilize the resource in their own lives.

A powerful presenter can relate to an audience. And the best method for enhancing the ability to relate to people is achieving a high level of self-awareness. The self-aware presenter will outshine others – as they are cognizant of strengths and weaknesses, flexible content deliverers, caring and conscious leaders, calm collectors of criticism, and reflective motivators. Overall, self-awareness is important for the individual presenter trying to grow professionally and personally. And this self-awareness also seeps into a presenter’s emotional intelligence and leadership abilities. And, finally, self-awareness impacts the presenter’s presentation performance by setting him or her up to deliver the best talk for them and for the audience. For more information about self-awareness and its importance in every facet of daily life, review the following articles:

Resources:

Four Signs of Self-Awareness

Self-Awareness is the Most Important Skill for Career Success

3 Ways to Mentally Prepare for a Presentation

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