Presentation Skills: C-style
In the previous articles in this series we’ve covered the basics of audience analysis, a short introduction to the DISC-model and already discussed the first three behavioural styles. In this last article, the C-style of the model, which stands for Conscientiousness, will be looked at in more detail. People who have a high C-style are characterized by an intense analytical mindset and attention to detail. The Conscientiousness quadrant is the one which combines introversion with a task-oriented mindset and is present as the colour blue within the DISC model.
When you are preparing a presentation, it is always necessary to pay attention to detail, but even more so when you know you’ll be presenting for people with a high C-style. They appreciate precision and detailed information. They might also ask you about where you get your data, or how you calculated certain things. This might separate people with high D-style, who are mainly interested in the conclusion and key insights, from people with high C-style, who also want to gain insight in how you came to those conclusions.
Because people with a high C-style are more task-oriented than people-oriented, you put more emphasis on figures and data than emotions and feelings because it will be way easier to interpret raw data and there will be less interest in how certain actions might affect people’s feelings. This is not to say that you should not include it in your presentation, but just know where you should direct the attention to. A good way to still address how certain conclusions and actions might affect people without focusing too much on the emotions, is just to address potential concerns and objections. Do this within the presentation about the topic you are discussing, but also anticipate objections for your own presentation. This is important because, as mentioned above, people with a high C-style prefer accuracy and details, so they might question you about certain things. By actively preparing for this you will come across as professional and someone who knows what he/she is talking about.
Lastly, to increase engagement with this type of audience, try to encourage critical thinking. You can do this by asking thought-provoking questions and facilitate discussion around relevant topics. But also make sure you give each individual enough time to analyse the information independently. When finishing your presentation, state clearly that you are open to receive feedback. Besides the point that feedback is always useful, this will also show that you value the critical thinking about your work and that you are willing to incorporate their insights.
Hopefully the information discussed in this article, as well as in the previous ones in this short series, will give you more confidence in adapting a presentation for specific audiences. If you would like to learn more about presentation skills and Extended DISC, make sure to contact us at alexander@tc3.be about our open sessions and trainings that cover this topic!