I just got back from a presentation by a lawyer.  "Yawn" is usually what I feel right about now but when the presentation is by a guy named Rusty Russell, a lawyer from Orillia, you are always left happy.   Why is this guy so good?   It is not particularly the subject matter.   Last time I saw him it was about roads and the new municipal statute for Ontario.   This time it was a morning on conflict of interest and municipal councillors.    Should be "yawn" and "double yawn", right?   Nope.

It is how he presents.   I swear if I had been taught by persons abiding by the Russell-esque techniques of education I would be a very much smarter person.   These appear to be his principles of presentation:

• Use humour throughout and not jokes.  Be a hunourous person.   Make people enjoy the experience.
• Teach something, just don't talk about something.
• Do not try to teach too much.   A 40 minute lecture can take two hours if properly discussed as you go along.
• Put a chart and outline of what you are going to say in the hands of the audience.
• Only give out a few pages, not a binder.
• Ask people for questions at the beginning of the presentation and then answer the questions throughout as your illustrations.   Review the questions at the end with those who asked to make sure they were satisfied that they got the answer they needed.
• Give penny candy to the people who ask questions and people who make comments.
• If you disagree with another person after discussion, ask "are we still friends?"

That is not difficult.   Oh, yes....one more thing - never power point, never ever power point.