In September of 1969 I became a New York City junior high school social studies teacher. In the winter of that year, the principal asked me to speak at the monthly faculty conference. The topic was How to Use an Overhead Projector. Back then overhead projectors were very high tech.
On Tuesday, I walked around the school to see how many teachers were convinced that using an overhead project would make their jobs easier and more effective. The grand total of overhead users was ZERO. The problem was that I was the only teacher in the school who had a working projector.
I learned a lot that day. You may get something out of it. What I learned is universal.
- Before you volunteer to speak, get to know the details.
- If you are going to suggest a major change, be sure that people are physically capable of doing what you will suggest they do.
- If it’s a big change, one mini session isn’t going to work.
- People lived without new technology…you must convince them of the advantages that a new technology will be for THEM.
- What you love may not even be liked by others. You are not right or wrong. They are simply different.
- Learn from your mistakes. I did.
- Your best presentation can be your worst…it’s all relative.
Beware.