"You're going to present at state and national conferences." What?!
When I led the enrollment area of one of the largest technical college systems in the state, my boss would encourage me to present at both state and national conferences.
You see, we had a compelling story to tell. We were transforming how enrollment (admissions, advising, financial aid and registration, etc.) served the mission of the college and student body, creating positive impact in our community vs. our area being seen as a series of transactions or hoops students had to jump through.
The first time I presented, I had my whole presentation written out on note cards. I didn't need them, but they were the safety net for me.
What I quickly realized is if you are passionate about something, and you have 'lived it,' it's about sharing the story - for our presentations, we broke it down to what was the current state, what did we do differently, what was the outcome and what did we learn.
Key was identifying topics that would land with an audience. My largest attended solo presentation was over 300 people at a national conference which was titled - Financial Aid 101 for Registrars and Admissions.
Why? Because I was the registrar, the head of admissions and the head of financial aid, I understood how a change in one area had a ripple effect on other areas and processes. And for most institutions, these key areas of enrollment were typically led independently, almost as islands. I was able to unlock and demystify an area holding many higher ed institutions back. The presentation was simple, yet impactful. I broke down rather complex concepts and regulations into actionable key takeaways.
Have you presented on a large stage? How did you approach getting over your fear of presenting? And, how did you decide what to present on?