Presenting a paper at a seminar held in a 5-star resort
November 12th, 2008I haven’t presented a paper at a seminar in 3 years until yesterday afternoon, during the “Strategising, Managing & Securing your Information Assets” seminar at Magellan Sutera, Kota Kinabalu.
Talking about a dry topic for 45 minutes right after lunch will always be a challenge, and this being a government (i.e. official) event, I couldn’t possibly do a Steve Riley i.e. walking around in shorts and standing on a chair 
Having said that, I think the most difficult part is always the Q&A session, because:
(i) there are too many possible questions, you can’t possible anticipate them all and prepare for each one thoroughly. I preprepared answers to 2 questions which I thought was the hardest and most likely to be asked - they were not.
(ii) you have very little time to prepare an answer, in fact you are pressured to give an answer. After the question is asked, hundreds of expectant eyeballs are on you, and you are seated right in front, onstage.
Thank you organisers for the book and the delicious handmade chocolates!
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Should be good on your resume, mate!
Congratulations!
Thanks - thinking back, it was like a public speaking competition, me and the boss!!!
fortunately you didnt do a “Gallus” or “Sabud” (after 38 glasses) mipangkis on stage….!!!!!!!!!!!
I would surely make the news if I did so!
You’re welcome Ben…haha. Anyways..you handled the questions well.
I learnt even more: during coffee afterwards some colleagues gave suggestions on how I could’ve handled the session and the questions better.
Perhaps…then that would be a good opportunity to have the SGCert teams to answer. Anyways, that’s a natural feeling…you will be put on a spot to come up with the answer. This year alone I’ve had 5 of those experiences. After each…I’ll keep thinking that I should’ve answered in another way.
good for u, ben and interesting topics. too bad i was not there 2 support u. otherwise u would hear some1 clap his hand from begin to end of your talk, haha…
In that case all eyes would’ve been on you, not me haha