My teaching style, as well as my presentation style, is marked by a relatively rapid delivery. I had favored such a style quite awhile ago for many public speaking formats as the general perception of the speaker by the audience is favorable (generally heighten perceptions of intelligence and mastery of the material).
However, now I can justify such approaches beyond my own perceived benefit and claim that I am doing my audience a favor. That is, those who engage the presented material will tend to be happier thanks to my public service:
universities made research participants think quickly by having them
generate as many problem-solving ideas (even bad ones) as possible in
10 minutes, read a series of ideas on a computer screen at a brisk pace
or watch an I Love Lucy video clip on fast-forward. Other participants performed similar tasks at a relaxed speed.
Results suggested that thinking fast made participants feel more
elated, creative and, to a lesser degree, energetic and powerful.
Activities that promote fast thinking, then, such as whipping through
an easy crossword puzzle or brain-storming quickly about an idea, can
boost energy and mood, says psychologist Emily Pronin, the study’s lead
author.
