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You know your audience. Your presentation is ready.
The setup is ready. Now it's time to shine by delivering
your content with conviction and engagement.
The SOLER framework can help with that.
This model is used in clinical counseling and professional coaching worldwide to foster
better interactions. So, here's an overview of the framework and how it can be used in
your design presentations. S stands for sit squarely. Sit at the same level as the person

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or group you're presenting to, because it will not assert a dominant position.
You have to position your body so people can perceive you as open and attentive.
This can help you get more feedback for your project and show that you're
willing to answer questions about your design instead of getting defensive.
O stands for open posture. Avoid crossing arms, as it can be seen as a sign of
hostility or disagreement. Again, in design projects, you need input from everyone. So,
your body language must be communicating that you're open to different perspectives.

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L for lean forward. By leaning slightly forward, you convey that you're interested in your audience
and in what they have to say, and that is useful in design critique sessions. Leaning
too much backwards can make you feel distant and uninterested, but actually,
leaning too much forward can also invade other people's space, so be careful about that.
E for eye contact. Natural eye contact is important to show interest and
attentiveness. In design workshops, it's also a way to invite someone to

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contribute to the conversation. But here again, be mindful that in some cultures,
eye contact can also be interpreted as invading and intimidating. So, use that sparingly.
R for relax. Being relaxed conveys to the audience that you're not in a
rush to leave, that you have time for them. It will also allow you to have a better flow in
your presentation. In design projects, when you're relaxed, it can also help you diffuse any tension
and help getting more views or maybe conflicted views on your design.

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So, applying this framework allows you to integrate emotional intelligence
in your design presentations. Actually, all this is about emotional intelligence. It
refers to the ability to understand and manage our own emotions, as well as recognizing and
influencing those of others. This is why the SOLER framework helps you achieve a balance
between being proud of your work and getting the necessary feedback from your stakeholders.
And of course,
I know that it's never easy to receive skepticism or criticism about our work,

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and our natural tendency is to defend our point of view and our design. A designer's mindset should
also balance between confidence and humility or, as we say in the team, having strong opinions,
weakly held. Don't cling to your original ideas, decisions, or hypotheses. You have to
seek contradictory information until you get the right answer. And all this takes time to practice.