CHAPTER9Side Talk:Keeping Your Poise

Rickey and Suki, do the two of you have something you’d like to share with the rest of the group?

—Rick’s third grade teacher, her voice dripping with sarcasm in order to embarrass the two side talkers

Doesn’t it really bother you when a couple of executives begin having a sidebar conversation during your presentation? It’s something that’s not only distracting for you as the presenter, but it also distracts the rest of the people around the table. There are some ways to deal with this. Unless you’re actively trying to limit your career, however, direct confrontation is not one of them.

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Andy Billings, VP, ...

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