As a DOT, I get to spend a lot of time in seminars and presenting my ideas. My earlier background is in stage and voice prepared me for presenting in front of large groups but my issue has always been the more than 5 less than 50 crowd.
I recently had the opportunity to attend a working session with Mark Bowden, a brit that has advised people such as Tony Blair and Harper on presenting.
His theory revolves around the idea that our primitive mind has a large effect on our newer (by evolutionary standards) frontal cortex. Some of these effects are subliminal - such as the fight or flight response to a crowd, the idea being that primitively our mind sees groups as threat (cause they can eat you) and it is only by acknowledging our primitive mind that we can overcome.
Another of his ideas take many queues from early art (especially Michelangelo) on arm placement. There are three main areas belly button, chest level and above the shoulders that convey truth, passion and ecstasy. One of the prime examples in art is the deception of biblical crucifixion (disambiguation) . Scientists and anthropology experts have agreed that in order for crucifixion to be effective the arms have to above the head (this brings on asphyxiation) but the majority of artistic impressions place the arms perpendicular to the body in the passion position.
Great ideas and strategies for dealing with group presentations.
