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sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 08 8:29 pm Post subject: How to avoid overplanning for work |
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This may sound like an odd thing to be asking, but bear with me-
I quite often give workshops, which is great and I love doing them, have done them for years so really should be unfazed by them, but I'm dreadful at overplanning for them.
Take tomorrow for example, I'm giving a one hour talk with hands on activity, and I've done a similar session before and know how much material I can get through in that time. All well and good, my box is packed and ready to go on that basis. I also know that if needs be, I can witter learnedly about the topic in question for probably hours, so there should be no reason why they shouldnt get however much info they feel like asking for.
But, and this is where I go a bit more pearshaped than usual, I always spend several days fretting that I don't have enough supplies/ factsheets/information for them, going round in circles checking my notes for things I know I already know, and generally being utterly inefficient.
When you think what the return is on an hours talk in a village hall for a small local group (about £25 round here, plus any odds and ends one sells over tea), its utterly inefficient of me to spend three consecutive evenings 'preparing' when in actuality I'm just going back over ground I already have checked.
aargh, I'm cross with mself, and I still can't stop fretting that I havent got enough material.
So, how do those of you who are very experienced at similar workshops go about planning your prep time, so you have any tips to stop me going in circles? |
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gil Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 18409
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 08 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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Depends on the audience / occasion, and what the punters' expectations are (beginners, students, work peers, WI, industry, etc).
For a village hall-type talk / class, keep it simple, and don't overburden the audience with loads of info. They've come for a good night out, not to stretch their brains (or bodies) that much. The hands-on, doing part of things is very important. Also to see examples of what it is possible to do if you know how / have the time (i.e. your work). Treat it as a taster session. As you say, they can always ask questions. Some material to take away and read later can be good, but not that much (I usually do 2-4 A4 sheets at most).
But I've found that there is always more material than time.
I prepare by leaving it till the last minute. I have a box with all the necessary stuff in, so no last-minute panics loading the car and forgetting to take essentials.
Sounds as though you've done a lot of this kind of thing before, know your subject thoroughly, and I'm sure you come across as an interesting and engaging speaker, who encourages the audience to have a try for themselves. |
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sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 08 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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gil wrote: |
Depends on the audience / occasion, and what the punters' expectations are (beginners, students, work peers, WI, industry, etc).
For a village hall-type talk / class, keep it simple, and don't overburden the audience with loads of info. They've come for a good night out, not to stretch their brains (or bodies) that much. The hands-on, doing part of things is very important. Also to see examples of what it is possible to do if you know how / have the time (i.e. your work). Treat it as a taster session. As you say, they can always ask questions. Some material to take away and read later can be good, but not that much (I usually do 2-4 A4 sheets at most).
But I've found that there is always more material than time.
Sounds as though you've done a lot of this kind of thing before, know your subject thoroughly, and I'm sure you come across as an interesting and engaging speaker, who encourages the audience to have a try for themselves. |
Yep, agree with all of that, I do this all the time, but I still spend three times as long as I should triple checking everything, its so silly. I just convince myself that I don't have enough even when experience tells me I have.
I'm starting to realise that this is as big a barrier to effective working as underplanning is, its wretchedly inefficient and gives me a headache |
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gil Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 18409
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Behemoth
Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 19023 Location: Leeds
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Behemoth
Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 19023 Location: Leeds
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Penny Outskirts
Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 23385 Location: Planet, not on the....
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sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
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Home on the Hill
Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Posts: 313 Location: Warwickshire
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woodsprite
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 34535 Location: Hereford
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 08 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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I've done this too. Laid awake at night the day before I give training, or similar. Tons of prep, and the training always turns out really well. It's because I'm good at it. That's why my company get me to do it. So, I can relax.
So, next time, wing it. Do bugger all preparation, and get the others to join in. What do they want out of it? Have them set the agenda. You know plenty enough to cope with anything they can throw at you. You're good at it. That's why you get asked. It's not hard for you. It's what you live and breathe. So, don't sweat it. Be Sally, relaxed and an expert. You'll find you get a lot more out of it, which means so do they.
But, if it's the way you're built, it's the way you're built. Maybe some of us are wingers, and some of us are worriers. |
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Stacey
Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 8380 Location: Kernow
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