I've experienced two odd conference room configurations in the last month, and I thought I would share them with you.

When I'm booked for a training, I send the organizer a diagram with my preferred room setup. I request classroom-style seating, the screen to my left (in the corner, so I can be in the center), a small table to my right for props, materials, water, notes, etc., and a flip chart either between me and the screen, or behind me.

Something that trips up a lot of inexperienced speakers is the fear of "I don't know." Even when a speaker understands, logically, that it's not possible to know everything and it's not even possible to prepare for every question, he often still freaks out at the thought of not being able to answer a question, especially when there are experts or superiors in the room.

Imagine you have a presentation you've been working on with a partner. Then the day comes to give your presentation, and your partner is sick, so you have to deliver alone. You panic and think, "I only know MY part of the presentation!"

This is what it's like when you come to rely too heavily on PowerPoint. Can you still give your presentation if your technology fails? If not, you are too dependent on PowerPoint!

There's a team in our county that got beaten badly by our local team. After that loss, they decided they weren't going to play our team again.

Both as a former team-sport athlete and as a sports fan, I find it shocking that they are giving up the opportunity to improve their skills by playing a tougher team. The truth is, they've lost all their games this season, so I can see how they might feel demoralized.