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How to present engaging and as sharp as a Samurai warrior?

Last December I videotaped Phd VU students that voluntarily joined a mini course Presentation Skills during the breaks of a conference. The best person presenting their research would win 50 Euro’s. When Elaine took up the challenge, I was amazed. Without any preparation she managed to give away a presentation that was both engaging and clear!

I am always curious to know more about these natural talents. What do they tell themselves just before a presentation (mindset)? What is their secret that makes them perform so well under pressure? (being video-taped, people watching, no preparation). Read down below what I discovered about Elaine’s secret to success and what a samurai warrior’s focus has got to do with this.

I learned two interesting things from Elaine that, to my view, were responsible for her excellent performance.

1 When I asked Elaine what was going through her mind just before her presentation. She said that she thought to herself that it was a performance. This is extremely important! It made Elaine push a button within herself to go that extra mile and make her presentation engaging to look at and listen to. She thereby linked up with her enthusiasm for the subject and let this energy come through.

2 The second thing I learned from Elaine was extremely fascinating. While talking, she explained about the focus she chose while presenting. This was a focus she was already practicing for years now, as an Iaido practioner! (Iaido is a Japanese fighting sport/art that originates from the old Samurai tradition). This focus helped Elaine to seemingly effortlessly deliver a clear and focused presentation right on the spot.

I was even more amazed when I asked Elaine is she could tell me more about this "special" focus, called Zahsin. I discovered that this focus was exactly the same as what I had just learned in a training that I followed myself! However, they termed it as "relational presence". Besides this it could also be compared to what I was being taught in my improvisation theatre class, where they call it "being in the here and now"!

According to me it is the ability to be aware of yourself (body, feelings) but being aware and available at all times for what happens outside you at the same time. (being able to harmonize this). It creates a broad perspective, wherein your antennas (senses) are highly sensitive (being sharp). You are not busy what comes next, nor what just happened, but completely focused on the here and the now. It is a state of consciousness that you can polish and practice your whole life!

What can you do to practice this state of consciousness and become as sharp as a knife? Besides becoming a fervent Iaido practitioner, join your local improvisation theater group (great fun!) or read the announcement down below? The first micro step you can do is the following exercise. While talking or listening this week either be it a presentation or a conversation be aware of your body (breathing other sensations) while at the same time being available at all times for the person, audience in front of you and see what happens!

Elaine’s secret of success was her ability to be engaging as well as clear and focused at the same time, which is quite special to attain period, let alone without preparation. She attained this wonderful combination by pushing herself to make it entertaining and by using her Zahsin Samurai focus.

My message to you: do you need to become clearer while presenting, polish your Samurai focus and become as sharp as a knife! Do you need to become more engaging, push your performance button and trigger your enthusiasm and let this energy come through!

Kind regards,
Mabel Frumau
 


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