How to build the skill to explain ideas for my design work?

Question

I am a fashion designer working in the US.I came from Asia last year, luckily got a job in the US.At work, I always need to explain my work during the design meeting, I have difficult time to explain my work to senior levels. Even though I spent so much time to prepare it,( I sometimes make a script and memorize it.)But once meeting starts, I feel nervous and I forget most of things that I prepared.Also if somebody ask questions about my work, I never be able to answer promptly.English is not my first language(It could be a reason),but I think that I have more problems to deliver my ideas to others than just lack of the language skill.Is there any ways to solve my problems?My works haven't been selected for last 2 weeks. I am depressed.

Answer 1

First of all I want to give you credit for even attempting to explain high-level knowledge and designs in any language other than your mother tongue. What you are doing is not easy.

I see this as two-fold.

First of all we need to clean up your mindset. If you are approaching this feeling like they won't understand your ideas or like them, before you even go into the meeting, you have to understand, that is affecting your energy/confidence, the way in which you are communicating and walking into the room. If you don't believe in yourself no one else will either- and that doesn't mean you can't be nervous- but I would work with you on your physical presentation and maybe identify how you are signaling to people you are nervous. We often feel nervous inside, but people don't even know it. You need to "wipe the slate clean" and go in understanding internally that you have one job, and that is to deliver your message as clearly and articulately as possible. You need to also stop thinking that the people in the audience don't want you to succeed and be honest with yourself - have you been feeling like they are on a different team? It is completely in your head. There is no reason to think the people who are listening to you want you to fail. They don't- they probably don't care either way, but I would argue for the most part if some one does their job well it is never looked at negatively and often benefits the . So that's just the tip of the iceberg with mindset adjustment. Try and be nice to yourself.

The second part of this is the content itself and communication of that content. Of course ideally, I would be able to review your actual presentation with you, but let's just speak generally for a moment. I once heard that if you are truly an expert in something you should know it well enough that you can break it down simply for even a child to understand. I want you to think about that going into your presentations because it is possible your brain is just thinking in more complexities then theirs can comprehend. I want you to practice (without being patronizing) explaining your ideas more simply and succinctly. That might require a script but it may also require you figuring out the main three points to each slide (if you are using slides). Also, I haven't heard you present, but I would say because english is your second language simplifying your ideas will benefit you and the audience . I would also make sure you understand your audience and ultimately how they will benefit from choosing your design ideas. You should always use the angle of how it will benefit them and their goals. Always bring it back to them- and there are tools and techniques in language and question asking that can help to achieve this.

Lastly I want to say that there may be no direct correlation between your presentation of ideas and them not choosing you. It would be really hard for me to diagnose without hearing you present. What I want to leave you with is some encouragement. The more you present the better you will get at it! No one is born being a great presenter and practice makes perfect. Keep working on it!

Answer 2

Theres a lot to unpack here.

First off, scripts do not work. Especially in defense style presentations like yours where you'll be questioned by an audience, a script locks you into thinking about your topic in one way. A master speaker can say the same thing 100 different ways.

For you to improve, you need to modify how you practice. Start small. Write down five key points you want to express in your presentation. Read them, then flip the paper over so you cant see them. Deliver into the mirror, trying to recall the five points as best you can while adding detail to each point as best you can. When you cant think of something, look at the paper for help, then return it back to hidden. When you say something you really like, make a note of it, then hide it. Repeat until you can repeatedly move through your main points with ease.