Strategic Storyboarding

Planning your charts in advance and having them ready and in order will make your meeting or training session go much more smoothly.

Keep notes in your guide to remind you to show a diagram, create a map or chart that will help to stimulate interactions within the group. Using a variety of mediums will create interest in your presentation. Draw the charts ahead of time in yellow on your flip chart. Only you will be able to see the yellow and it will look spontaneous to your group. You can use this method until you are comfortable with drawing on the spot without a guide.

Organize yourself and have everything ready before you start your presentation.

Make sure that your charts are visible from everywhere in the room and that you have your supplies ready and at hand. Utilize all of the space in the room with your charts. Put up charts on different walls and move around to anchor the entire space as a learning environment. Use both words and pictures to catch both visual picture learners and visual word learners.

Use the KISS policy--keep it simple,and  short. Keep your charts clear and easy to read instead of packed full of information. The charts are there to support your words, use both to reach your group. Hand out regular sheet sized replicas of the chars and posters that you have offered to the class. Don't give them everything, allow some of the information to stay off the hand outs so that your group has to take some notes. Use colors that you can see easily from the back of the room. You'll have to try out different colors in each room you use to make the best choice for the lighting and space you are using. Allow ongoing dialogue and set the stage for coaching between peers and with you, the instructor. Ask for input from your group and find out what worked and what didn't with each group you instruct or present to.

This will allow you to expand your sessions to be more effective.