Even with 20 years of experience as a faculty member in various professional institutions, I still get butterflies in my stomach every time I walk up to the podium to address my target group-the students. Those attending my sessions usually form a heterogeneous group. Some are fresh from college, while others are in gainful employment seeking to empower themselves.
Sometimes the batch is docile just listening to my lecture in silence and at times even dozing off. On other occasions they shoot out questions that leave me stumped for an answer, much to the bemusement of those attending. It is these embarrassing moments that unnerve me, often prompting me to have second thoughts on whether I should continue as a guest faculty despite the professional qualifications I have painstakingly acquired and proudly printed on my visiting card.
My dilemma continued, till it was convincingly addressed by a colleague of mine. He is a senior member of the professional institute of which we are members and an in-demand speaker. Recently, at a seminar where he was the resource person, he chose to share his experience from which he learnt an invaluable lesson. He was invited to address the students of a premier management institute. Though happy to be recognised and invited, he had apprehensions and thought it fit to share the same with the organiser of the seminar.
“I normally cover the subject over 30 hours. You want me to squeeze it into less than half the time, which in itself is a big challenge for me,” he started. The organiser expressed his helplessness and insisted it had to be covered in the given time slot. Not willing to lose the invite, my colleague agreed but continued to harp on his apprehensions.
“Your students are well-informed. If inadvertently, I fail to cover some areas that may be of interest to them, that could embarrass me and lead to the loss of my reputation.” “Why do you worry?” the organiser interrupted, “just brief the students in advance, on the topic you propose to speak on. They will go through the subject thoroughly and come prepared for the session.”
My colleague wouldn’t give up: “Suppose someone raises a question and I am stumped?” But the organiser continued enthusiastically: “That is no issue. Your reaction to such a question should be ‘Oh that’s a brilliant question!’Anyone here has an answer to this?” “Intellectuals that they are, you can be assured they will certainly come up with the requisite responses that should address your predicament. It is as simple as that!” And I had the answer to my dilemma!
M S Vaidyanathan
Email: maharajapuram.s.vaidyanathan@gmail.com