Welcome back from spring break.
The building designs are proceeding very well. Our next milestone is to deliver the BIM of your building to the COSC partners. They will then have a week to work on it in preparation for a major presentation on March 31. On March 31 you will have the opportunity to present to various professionals gathered for the CRS Symposium and the Rowlett Lecture.
I have shared videos of the previous presentations with you using Media Matrix. You should be able to log onto Media Matrix to see the videos.
The Midway Culture Video is very good at explaining the values and philosophy that Midway brings to a project.
I recommend that you also watch the video of you and your team from both the February 28 event and the March 3 event. You may want to watch other videos. Try to note what works well and what is distracting. Here are some take-aways from my observations:
- Do not comment about team members who are absent. It just reduces your credibility. If you are preparing to present without some team mates, get the material from them that needs to be presented. If they must present without you, provide them with the material that you would have presented.
- Prepare. Write your statements, Rehearse.
- Dress professionally. T-shirts, baseball caps, short pants and other casual-ware does not reflect well.
- Speak to the review panel. Do not talk to the screen or turn your back on the panel.
- Speak from memory. Do not read the screen. Note cards are acceptable, but not desirable.
- Avoid filler words.
- Avoid too much use of personal pronoun (I, we). Phrases like "I wanted", "I thought", "I believe" are not helpful. Did your project succeed or did it fall short of your wants, beliefs, and thoughts?
- Look at your team mates when they speak. This conveys respect and interest.
- Include all team mates fairly. Everyone should participate, but equal time is not necessary.
- Use the CAVE. Allow time for the CAVE. Avoid dramatic movement of the viewpoint. Still or near still works best.
- Coordinate the media available. The small screen may be good for a location plan while showing the animation in the CAVE.
- Relax! Confidence is convincing and attractive.
I look forward to the next presentation!