Barkley's swing is unique, to be sure. He is a Hall of Fame athlete, and arguably one of the 50 best basketball players of all time. He was among the league's most talented and tenacious players of his era, and at only 6-foot-4-inches, he dominated at power forward, a position usually reserved for much taller men.

In addition to having great physical skill, he is undoubtedly a highly intelligent man, who has managed to transition his career into a successful broadcasting position for the NBA. So how could such a talented and intelligent athlete perform so awkwardly when handed a golf club? And more importantly, what does this have to do with trade shows?

Well, to begin with, I think all of us have had to deal with trade show staff who perform their "on the floor" duties with the same degree of "skill" as Chuck on the 10th tee. You spend time telling them not to talk on their cellphones, not to bring their lunch into the booth, and not to visit with old cronies for hours on end, but they still end up swinging like Chuck.

Then we, as exhibit managers, tend to label them as "knuckleheads," or just "rilly, rilly, turrrabull" staffers, to steal a line from Mr. Barkley.

Yet these same knucklehead staffers do a great job for the company the rest of the year. They're smart, hard working, intelligent, and productive employees year-round — except for the three days they spend staffing your exhibit.

Are they really lazy, selfish morons? Chances are that if they were, your company wouldn't have hired them. So the problem probably lies elsewhere, just like Chuckie's golf-swing dilemma.

I'd be willing to bet that the reason your staff doesn't perform to their potential is the same reason Charles Barkley swings so awkwardly: They didn't realize the importance of learning the proper fundamental behaviors necessary for success, nor how those fundamental behaviors differ from what they already do very well.

This is especially true for salespeople. Their usual techniques and skills provide them with great success out in the field. But in the time-shortened environment of the trade show, those selling skills can make a good salesperson look like Charles Barkley trying to swing his driver.

At your next pre-show staff training session, I suggest you focus on the unique differences between selling on the show floor and selling out in the field. Stress how a different set of behaviors is needed to achieve the objectives your company has set for the show. Emphasize that you're only asking them to change for a short while. And finally, consider showing them the Charles Barkley video clip, to remind them that even the best athletes in the world occasionally need some coaching in order to perform at their best.

If you can capture their attention, you might be able to leave the knuckleheads at home, and keep your exhibit staff from being "rilly, rilly, turrrabull."