How can you build resilience when presenting in a new culture?

Presenting in a new culture can be challenging and rewarding. You may encounter different expectations, norms, and values that affect how your audience perceives your message and your credibility. To overcome these barriers and deliver a successful presentation, you need to build resilience: the ability to bounce back from stress, adapt to change, and learn from feedback. Here are some tips to help you develop resilience when presenting in a new culture.

1 Understand your audience

Before you design and deliver your presentation, do some research on your audience's cultural background, preferences, and needs. Find out what they value, what they expect, and what they are interested in. This will help you tailor your content, style, and tone to suit their context and goals. For example, some cultures prefer a direct and assertive approach, while others value a more subtle and respectful one. Some cultures appreciate humor and anecdotes, while others expect facts and figures. By understanding your audience, you can avoid misunderstandings and build rapport.

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Vicky Furia

Scaling Advaya Platform || Empowering Banks & NBFCs to become agile in product development & software implementation using Low Code No Code framework solution
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There can't be any other point which is of utmost importance than this. The entire purpose of the presentation is to keep your ideas in front of a group of people, to leave them with a thought. Thus to make an impact, it is always beneficial to know what your audience is going to be. Entire presentation context changes, approach changes even the structure changes. Thus, Audience Knowledge is a must

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Semih Sisman, LL.M.

Legal Counsel at All for One Türkiye & Egypt
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To build resilience when presenting a new culture, thoroughly research and understand the culture, anticipate potential challenges, stay open-minded, and be prepared to adapt your communication style to foster understanding. Additionally, be receptive to feedback, emphasize common ground, and approach differences with curiosity rather than judgment.

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2 Prepare and practice

One of the best ways to build resilience is to prepare and practice your presentation thoroughly. This will help you boost your confidence, refine your delivery, and anticipate potential questions and objections. You can also practice in front of a friend or colleague who is familiar with the culture you are presenting to and get their feedback and suggestions. Alternatively, you can watch or listen to presentations from that culture and learn from their examples. By preparing and practicing, you can reduce your anxiety and improve your performance.

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Semih Sisman, LL.M.

Legal Counsel at All for One Türkiye & Egypt
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Absolutely, preparing and practicing are crucial for building resilience when presenting a new culture. Develop a well-structured presentation, rehearse it to familiarize yourself with the content, and anticipate potential questions. Practice in front of a diverse audience if possible, and seek feedback to refine your delivery. This preparation helps you feel more confident and adaptable during the actual presentation.

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3 Be flexible and open

No matter how well you prepare and practice, you may still encounter unexpected situations or challenges when presenting in a new culture. For example, you may face technical issues, interruptions, or negative reactions from your audience. To deal with these scenarios, you need to be flexible and open to adapt to the changing circumstances. You can do this by having a backup plan, using humor or empathy, or asking for clarification or feedback. By being flexible and open, you can show your professionalism and resilience.

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4 Reflect and learn

After your presentation, take some time to reflect and learn from your experience. Think about what went well, what didn't, and what you can do better next time. You can also ask for feedback from your audience, your host, or your peers and listen to their perspectives and suggestions. This will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, improve your skills, and appreciate the diversity of cultures. By reflecting and learning, you can grow and develop as a presenter.

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5 Celebrate and reward

Finally, don't forget to celebrate and reward yourself for your achievement. Presenting in a new culture is not easy and requires courage and effort. You should acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how big or small, and treat yourself to something you enjoy. This will help you boost your morale, motivation, and self-esteem. By celebrating and rewarding yourself, you can reinforce your resilience and readiness for future challenges.

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Semih Sisman, LL.M.

Legal Counsel at All for One Türkiye & Egypt
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Celebrating and rewarding efforts in understanding and presenting a new culture can enhance resilience. Acknowledge milestones, appreciate the learning process, and recognize achievements, whether big or small. This positive reinforcement can motivate you to overcome challenges, foster a sense of accomplishment, and create a more positive and resilient mindset when engaging with diverse cultures.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you build resilience when presenting in a new culture?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Understand your audience

2 Prepare and practice

3 Be flexible and open

4 Reflect and learn

5 Celebrate and reward

6 Here’s what else to consider

Presentation Skills

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How can you build resilience when presenting in a new culture?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Understand your audience

2 Prepare and practice

3 Be flexible and open

4 Reflect and learn

5 Celebrate and reward

6 Here’s what else to consider

Presentation Skills

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