--Summer's Here - Looking towards Autumn--

Speaking a business colleague the other day we were commiserating that we were already starting to plan out our September and October. Here it is only the beginning of July! While nobody was complaining about the work, I think we were more distraught that we had not really thought out our own personal time for the rest of the summer.

By personal time, I (personally) was thinking of personal and professional development. I belong to several professional organizations that seem to (wisely) offer professional development opportunities during the summer months. Now to avoid temptation and actually attend! Business professionals, especially consultants, can get set in their ways. It is always good to shake things up a bit and listen to other opinions, ideas, and perspectives. In person. At an all day thing. Not just sitting at the computer reading somebody's blog. Like this one.

What counts as personal or professional development? I'd say reading some hardcover book that has been sitting on the shelf (or worse, the floor) forever. Bonus points if it is work-related! Seriously, even the "ghosts and the paranormal" book I just finished had several work applications. Okay, if that didn't catch your attention - nothing will. The book discussed several authors and their approach to their work (I'm an author - I got several tips out of that). The book also discussed some of the more (ahem) esoteric historical highlights of central and western Canada (one of my companies works a lot in Canada). The book also talked a lot about how belief systems need to be occasionally reviewed and perhaps challenged to make sure the environment has not changed so much that perhaps the belief system is no longer beneficial (ummm, isn't this what I do for a living?).

Just for the record, I am also seriously considering attending a face-to-face one-day professional development day in downtown Chicago this week with what I (personally) consider "lite" topics but there should be many different perspectives and... who knows, I might get something out of it. Heck, for $75 for a full day of potential enlightenment, I'm there...

--What a Good Seminar Looks Like--

Talking with a fellow adult educator today, we were commiserating about how much bad training there is out there. How does it survive? I am guessing the same way that bad managers survive... People who are incompetent cannot recognize competence. People who have never attended a well-run meeting do not know what a well-run meeting experience is. People who have only attended bad training learn that "bad training" is just the way training is.

I cannot speak French. How in the world would I know if someone is speaking good French or not? I mention this as an example. If you have never attended a training session or seminar or workshop that got you thinking for the entire commute home, why or how would you expect such a thing to exist?

Two years ago I attended a presentation conducted by someone who is billed as one of the best speakers of the Project Management Institute. She doesn't work for the Project Management Institute (PMI) -- but she doesn't fight the confusion over her "being" the PMI... I was absolutely mortified. At one point she appeared to be speaking in tongues, and towards the end she took a doll out of her briefcase and jumped on it in rage. Now I have no problem with those that speak in tongues, however at a professional meeting where the topic was supposed to be Gantt Charts, I find it deeply disturbing that I witnessed either an epileptic fit or a person's religious epiphany. Oh, the audience loved it...

Now how in the world would someone think that choking a rag-doll and screaming is a professional presentation??? I can only guess that the audience was used to memorized speeches or reading PowerPoint slides, so anything "different" is "good."

So what does a good seminar look like? Well, PowerPoint is a tool that should enhance the background - and at a very high level summarize the presentation. The PowerPoint should not be the presentation. The presenter should verbally add to the presentation, talking more "off the cuff" (or seemingly so!) and adding a personal element to show real-world application or understanding. A good seminar should have you thinking about the concepts or the topic or the material as you commute home or try to fall asleep that night. A good seminar should leave you energized; not drained. A good seminar should get you thinking about how you can apply these good ideas in your personal or professional life. A good seminar can be shocking, and might make you question your current beliefs, but should not be revolting. Confusion over how to process a presentation is usually a bad thing, not a sign of brilliance.

How does one attempt to ensure a good presentation? Check with which organizations the presenting organization (or individual) is affiliated with. While not a sure thing, somebody belonging to the National Association of Professional Speakers, or the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS), shows some commitment to a professional presentation.

That said, do not assume just because a professional organization is hosting a presentation / seminar / workshop that is it a good one. Most organizations subcontract out such work, with little if no interest in the quality of the experience. Remember when you are a "non" profit organization focused on money, income - not quality or repeat business - is the most important factor. Because heck, most people won't recognize crap when they see it!