2024-05-21T05:41:42-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150164111/one-key-tip-to-nailing-your-presentation Sean Joyner 2019-10-14T08:00:00-04:00 >2019-10-11T13:20:30-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/8e/8e1a237184002a29950ed354d6493fed.png?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>If there is one skill we learn as architects and designers, it's how to talk. We know how to dress up our ideas and present them eloquently and compellingly. As a result, we sometimes build a tricky habit of winging presentations. This happens in school and in professional practice. Most of the time it turns out well, especially for those more seasoned practitioners.&nbsp;</p> <p>I remember the first time I went to a client presentation when I&nbsp;was just starting out. A colleague of mine and myself had worked diligently on a project for a lucrative client. On the presentation day one of the principals was going to present the design scheme to this client. We briefed him on the work we had done for maybe 5 minutes or so before the meeting. To my colleague and I this concept was very complex and nuanced, after all, it took us two weeks to figure out.&nbsp;</p> <p>In that 2 weeks this principal maybe spent about 2 hours of time working with us on this project (which is totally fine, this is to prove to the poin...</p> https://archinect.com/news/article/150155018/can-filler-words-like-uh-and-um-be-useful Sean Joyner 2019-08-26T19:30:00-04:00 >2019-08-27T13:35:10-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/59/59922c540a5c58c458997303df212b86.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>One thing most of us can't avoid in architecture is having to verbally communicate our creative ideas to another person, that may be a client, a coworker, or even a contractor. Whoever it may be, communication is a powerful tool we must all hone in our careers. We've all heard since our youth that we should not say things like "um, uh, like, etc." too much when speak. We learn that it reduces our credibility and authority, and, according to research, this is true.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Used sparingly, there's nothing wrong with filler words. When you use them excessively, however, they can detract from your confidence and credibility," writes Harvard University Communications Professor Allison Shapira. In a <a href="https://hbr.org/2019/08/why-filler-words-like-um-and-ah-are-actually-useful" target="_blank">recent piece for the Harvard Business Review</a>, Shapira illustrates some areas where she feels these common filler words can be useful and offers some alternatives to help strengthen the implementation of them.</p> <ol><li><strong>"To be diplomatic."&nbsp;</strong>Sometimes we need to use less assertive language when speaking to those...</li></ol>