Read time: 4 minutes
Today, I’ll show you a deliberate practice routine you can plug into your weekly & monthly schedule to help improve your AIA CEU-accredited lunch & learns (L&Ls).
Even though I’ll continue to share other interesting & fun ways to connect with architects, I know L&Ls hold a special place in your arsenal.
They’re your platform to showcase your products and a golden opportunity to influence, educate, and build lasting relationships with your ideal architect.
Creating a routine will increase your chances of every L&L you give better than the last one.
The problem with most L&L slideshows? They’re created, packaged up, and stay the same for at least the next 12 months. And that won’t cut it anymore.
You need a solid system in place to continuously get feedback and improve every AIA presentation.
In this issue, you won’t find specific gimmicks or tricks to stick into your presentation. [But I will be sharing those in the future…]
You’re getting a solid system to help you nail these crucial elements to make each L&L your best one:
- preparation
- customization
- continuous feedback
- interactive engagement
With each section below, I’ll provide a randomly picked example for 1 interior & 1 exterior building product.
Not your product type? Don’t let that stop you from learning from it and applying the lessons to your L&Ls.
👉 [Wanna see your product type as an example in a future issue? HIT REPLY and let me know.]
Enough! Let’s get to it…
How to create your own deliberate practice system to make every Lunch & Learn your best one
1. Weekly Research & Study (30 minutes/day)
GOAL: Stay updated on architectural trends, data analytics tools & presentation tech.
Activities:
- Read industry publications & reports to identify emerging design trends.
- Find case studies of successful projects. Note the products used & why.
- Study new tools & software to improve interaction & data visualization.
Examples:
- Aluminum Storefront: Read articles & reports on energy-efficient storefront technology and notable architectural projects featuring innovative storefront designs.
- Interior porcelain floor tile: Read design publications & online forums to keep up with interior design trends. Which ones affect porcelain tile preferences? Focus on current aesthetic & functional demands.
2. Content Development & Customization (3-4 hours of prep)
GOAL: Create tailored, compelling content for each AIA CEU presentation.
Activities:
- Based on Step 1, update your slides. Blend in the latest trends, data & relevant case studies.
- Customize your show for each specific audience. Focus on the firm’s specialties & current projects.
- Develop narratives around your products, showing how they solve common architectural challenges.
Examples:
- Aluminum Storefront: Show how storefronts enhance commercial aesthetics… and meet energy efficiency standards. Include relevant project case studies.
- Interior porcelain floor tile: Highlight porcelain’s aesthetic versatility & durability for commercial interiors. Use visuals of your tiles in award-winning projects to emphasize their design appeal.
3. Visual & Interactive Material Creation (2-3 hours of prep)
GOAL: Enhance your show with effective visuals & interactive elements.
Activities:
- Design or update infographics, charts & visuals to support data-driven points.
- Use presentation software or apps. Integrate interactive elements like polls, quizzes, or digital models.
Examples:
- Aluminum Storefront: Create an interactive model showing the thermal performance improvements in different climate conditions.
- Interior porcelain floor tile: Create a digital portfolio with high-quality images of your tiles in different settings. Add a simple interactive feature to visualize tile options in various room scenes.
4. Practice & Rehearsal (1-2 hours/week)
GOAL: Hone presentation delivery & storytelling skills.
Activities:
- Practice delivering your show. Focus on clear communication, pacing, and engaging storytelling.
- Record practice sessions to critique your performance and adjust as needed.
- Conduct mock presentations with colleagues to get feedback & improve interaction techniques.
[Don’t be too proud & skip this because you’ve been doing it for years. It matters.]
Examples:
- Aluminum Storefront: Practice explaining your system’s technical advantages, such as thermal performance. And be ready to address architects’ common questions or objections, aiming for clarity & engagement.
- Interior porcelain floor tile: Practice explaining the technical benefits of your tiles in layman’s terms. Such as water absorption rate, PEI wear ratings, and slip resistance. Aim for clarity & engagement in your delivery.
5. Feedback Collection & Analysis (1 hour Post-presentation)
GOAL: Use feedback to continuously improve presentation content & delivery.
Activities:
- After each presentation, collect feedback from attendees through surveys or informal discussions.
- Analyze feedback to find areas for improvement and “bright spots” to keep.
- Adjust future presentations based on this feedback, focusing on content & delivery.
Examples:
- Aluminum Storefront: After each AIA CEU presentation, use brief feedback forms. They can gauge architects’ interest in specific features or benefits of your product. Use this feedback to refine your approach, focusing on the areas of greatest interest.
- Interior porcelain floor tile: Right after presentations, gather feedback via a short online survey. It should focus on finding the most compelling aspects of the tile presentation.
6. Monthly Review & Goal Setting (1-2 hours/month)
GOAL: Reflect on progress and set goals for further development.
Activities:
- Review the outcomes of recent presentations, including audience engagement and follow-up interactions.
- Assess progress towards mastering the identified skills and strategies.
- Set specific, measurable goals for next month. Such as: 1) integrating new data analytics tools. 2) exploring more interactive presentation techniques. Or 3) targeting new architectural firms.
Examples:
- Aluminum Storefront: Review feedback for trends & set monthly goals to refine your presentations. Focus on areas of highest interest to architects.
- Interior porcelain floor tile: Analyze feedback to identify trends, such as interest in eco-friendly manufacturing. Enhance your presentations with more content on sustainability & updated design trends.
7. Continuous Learning (Ongoing)
GOAL: Keep learning & adapting to stay ahead in the field.
Activities:
- Attend workshops, webinars, and courses on presentation skills, data analytics, and architectural trends.
- Join professional networks and forums to exchange ideas and learn from peers.
Examples:
- Aluminum Storefront: Enroll in short courses or webinars on the latest building envelope technology. Then apply the insights to keep your presentations up-to-date.
- Interior porcelain floor tile: Find a brief online course on the role of porcelain in green interiors (or whatever the feedback suggests). Integrate it into your future presentations.
That’s all for this week. You’ve got this!
See you next Monday.
P.S. Now I’d like to ask for YOUR feedback…
Was this issue interesting and/or useful?
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[ADDENDUM]
After I sent this to my list about improving your L&Ls, I got a great question through my feedback form about the AIA presentation requirements:
“AIA presentations, can you add/delete information on these presentations? I was under the impression they had to be presented as approved. How much can you add for personalization?”
So, I reached out to the head honcho to make sure you have the answer straight from the horse’s mouth.
I sent a LinkedIn DM to Stephen Martin, the AIA’s Managing Director of Professional Development & Resources.
Here was Stephen’s response (bolding is mine):
“This is a great question.
We encourage providers to tailor their sessions to their audiences. We do not say every session must be a carbon copy of every other session. As long as the program remains true to the advertised description and delivers on the approved learning objectives, delivery is flexible.
CES Standard 15-02 covers “Consistency of instruction.” That section intends to ensure an instructor doesn’t go so far “off-script” that the program is nothing like what we approved. This standard exists because we have had rogue instructors who have turned their “education time” into extended sales pitches for their products.
It’s always an option for a provider to submit a “custom” version of a course as a new course. CES Standard 2-02 talks about when a learning program needs to be submitted as a new program because the content has changed considerably. We do not have a set threshold for what constitutes enough diversion from the original course to require a new course though we suggest that more than 10-20 percent change should be a new course.”
So, there you go. I hope that helps clarify and allows you to feel free to tailor & freshen up your sessions as I described in my earlier email.
Thanks again to you if it was your question. And keep those coming, so I can help get you the answers you need.