It was during a lunch break few weeks back that a suggestion was mooted - A technical session should be organized in the team “for the team”. I was one of the vociferous supporters for this idea and as soon as the bomb landed, that it was mandatory for everybody to do their bit, I backed out. It is so typical of me.
Dates were identified for people to enact the role of a presenter. Haven’t I faced this scenario earlier in my university days? Skipping out when I am supposed to be facing the class. But then the surrounding was different now and I knew at some point I would have to contribute. Try as I might, could not ride on my good luck for more than 2 weeks from the day allocated for my slot. On the D-Day, I was ready with a PowerPoint and sample code for the demonstration. Back of my mind, the possibility of the day’s session cancelled for some reason loomed large. However it was not to be so. I had to accept it was inevitable.
5 minutes to start the session and the attendance was in full. I should mention here that the audience comprised of technical geeks too and this fact sent few chills down my spine. A rush of emotions swept my feet - jitters and not gratitude toward the venerated audience though it was to come at the end for putting me out of misery. Few minutes into the session I was able to get some confidence to face at least a minimal of challenges (if thrown, but I knew they were sympatheticJ). But destiny had its own plans. The session had to be paused for the day and to be continued later as everybody had to assemble for a meeting called out which took more precedence than the one at our hands. The thought of facing a group again haunted my mind and all I could do was curse my bad luck.
I had wanted to get this done as soon as possible and thankfully the show was resumed the very next day. I am not certain if I have to refer this part as my second coming or still MY FIRST PRESENTATION. As we neared the end of the session I was a much relieved man and I didn’t have to bother about my bloody nerves after this. I knew with the stuff I had presented I could have been ripped apart by the group but I felt they perceived what was on my mind and didn’t nudge me around with lot of questions.
Though it was not altogether a great take off, I can definitely say it was neither an inglorious start.
4 comments:
You sound more of a novel writer than a blogger...
Usually when the interaction level is low during a team training/discussion it means either of one:
1. They don't understand.
2. They are sleeping.
I think what you presented must have been geeky even for the geeks and would have flown past way above their heads.
btw, increase the blogging frequency.
:-)
You could not have done better than this to incense them. Hope i do not find myself in a precarious situation having to face them again. Not after this.. :)
surprised that there's no single "spectacled, inquisitive, first-bencher" in your team! or was he absent (or you made him absent? :-))
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