Comments on: Type before you think

By: Ben Warsop

Ben Warsop — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:13:57 +0000

What an interesting approach Santra. My first thought there is that I know all of those things anyway, why do I need to stop and think about them. Which of course means that I really do need to stop and think about them.

So much of what is wrong with presentations arises because of lazy use of the tool. If only the default setting was not those dreadful bullets…

By: SG V

SG V — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:43:57 +0000

Oh yeah, one thing I regret never having learned is touch typing. Would save me so much time. I’m battling the urge to start right off in PowerPoint every time I do a – at least more important – presentation. I have a little Word file that I use – it prompts me for answers to the most important things such as who’ll be there, why am I speaking and what do I want them to retain. And then prints that along with two pages full of empty ‘cartoon spaces’ for me to sketch (yes, using a pencil!) my presentation flow into. Works rather well.

But having to write up a long, coherent report? *shudders*

By: benwarsop

benwarsop — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:23:03 +0000

I’ve had both roles there, and much preferred the boss who said “send a letter to so-and-so saying such-and-such” to the boss who needed three passes through the same letter – each one typed separately – before he’d sign the dratted thing.

Personally I think everyone should be taught to touch-type at school.

Cheers

Ben

By: SonofRojBlake

SonofRojBlake — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:55:08 +0000

Giving dictation is a skill just as much as is typing. Then again, of course, if one had a GOOD secretary, one could simply dictate the important points, and trust the secretary to knock the corners off and wrap it in readable prose.

By: Z

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:17:30 +0000

I detest dictation with avengance, given the change I’d do my own typing, but my secretary won’t let me, and I don’t really have time.

But I find you really have to plan what you are saying in advance. It’s a struggle to dictate a two page letter, let alone a whole report or a book. I can’t believe people used to write via dictation.