Blog post #1

Macly Lormil

Presentations Blog

I had to do an essay and give a presentation regarding the importance of deliverables in both projects and professional settings. Honestly, before doing research on this topic, I didn't really think about the importance of deliverables in daily business and project management. As I worked on the assignment, I found that deliverables simply refer to the outcomes, tasks, or products that have to be accomplished as part of a project. Deliverables are valuable since they assist team members in organizing themselves, monitoring their progress, and ensuring that goals are achieved appropriately and in a timely manner. Although I understood the subject matter better upon completing the assignments, I did find myself uninterested in listening to each of the presentations in our classes.

Some reasons why I wasn't too enthused about many of the presentations was due to some of the presentations felt like they covered the same information over and over again therefore, it became hard to keep my interest in a particular one for long amounts of time. A number of the presentations contained slides with excessive amounts of data, and some of the students would just read right off their screens instead of elaborating on the concepts in their own words. I comprehend that public speaking can cause anxiety for individuals, however, when presentations appear to be scripted, it makes it increasingly difficult for audiences to remain attentive. Presentations seem more engaging when presenters provide their own personality, show self confidence, and provide examples relevant to the topic rather than merely reading definitions and bullet points. Eventually, many of the presentations began to feel quite alike, and thus it was even more challenging for me to maintain my enthusiasm.

Another reason I experienced difficulty enjoying the presentations was that some of the presentations lacked energy and engagement with the audience. From my perspective, presentations are easier to follow when presenters convey excitement for their topic and attempt to create a connection with the class, rather than only attempting to complete the slides. Many students spoke at such low volumes or progressed through the content so rapidly that it was difficult for others to grasp their messages. Additionally, I realized that whenever presentations grow excessively lengthy, people's attentiveness naturally begins to wane. Regardless of whether or not the content itself has value, the manner in which it is conveyed may greatly impact whether or not other people continue paying attention.

Although I enjoyed only a couple of the presentations, there were several instances where I found aspects of a presentation to be particularly noteworthy. A few of the students explained their subjects clearly enough and provided illustrations so that I could easily understand their message. These types of presentations held my interest more because they seemed less formal and more conversational. Observing various forms of presentation styles additionally assisted me in evaluating my own presentation style and potential improvements I could implement within my future presentations. Given that my topic dealt with deliverables, I attempted to describe deliverables in a straightforward fashion so that viewers could perceive how deliverables relate to achieving objectives and maintaining projects organized. I wanted my presentation to sound intelligible, rather than overly complex, as I am aware that information is generally simpler to absorb when it is articulated clearly.

Through preparation of my essay and presentation, I gained knowledge that deliverables play a vital role in business/project management. Each project relies on specific responsibilities being accomplished successfully, and deliverables aid in measuring progress. For instance, within construction projects, deliverables can represent schedules, reports, completed work stages, safety assessments, etc., completed structures. The learning experience surrounding this topic allowed me to recognize the significance of organization and communication within professional settings. Since I wish to pursue a career in Project Management and ultimately establish my own Construction Company, having knowledge about deliverables is an area of study that will benefit me professionally. 

The assignments allowed me to see the importance of communication skills in a professional setting. Whether a person has good ideas and/or solid knowledge of a subject, they may fail to keep people's attention if the way they share information isn't engaging. As such, I'm fairly certain I'll need to provide some form of presentations, either individually or as part of a team, at some point in the future. I therefore believe that developing a skill set related to presenting, even if it’s not one I’m particularly fond of, is beneficial, regardless of whether you’re going to be providing them frequently.

Watching all the presentations allowed me to see some things that work effectively, while others do not work effectively. One thing I saw was that having your energy up and using a particular style of communication could result in people paying attention, rather than losing focus. For example, some students included pictures and examples to illustrate points, and it appeared as if their presentations were understood much better than others. If I were required to complete another presentation, I might include more interaction, like asking questions, possibly limit myself to fewer words, like less reading off the slide, and perhaps reduce my reliance upon the slides so that there is less emphasis on simply reading the content.

I feel that the classroom environment plays an extremely large role in terms of how comfortable students become when presenting. Some students are nervous because they fear judgment or because they fear they will mess up in front of peers. I am somewhat familiar with this feeling since I find public speaking to be quite difficult myself. However, I truly believe that confidence improves with each passing day as one becomes more comfortable with the task at hand. Presentations allow students to gain experience and ultimately increase their level of comfort with delivering presentations; although I didn’t exactly “enjoy” the experience, I can honestly say that the experience allowed every student an opportunity to develop important skills that will benefit them long after they leave school.

In conclusion, I did not thoroughly enjoy the presentations themselves however, the assignments provided several valuable lessons. I gained knowledge of deliverables and why deliverables are so important in project management. Additionally, I gained insight into what makes presentations effective vs. ineffective. Although I don’t look forward to doing more presentations in the future, I recognize that the assignments allow students to practice very essential elements of communicating, organizing, and building confidence. Ultimately, the experiences gained by completing the assignments provided me with a greater appreciation for both my research topic and the value of presentation skills in both education and business.