The Serious Part
Making a Presentation
Whilst presentations can be the bain of a salespersons life we all know there’s little else like the ‘buzz’ when you deliver a good one. Whether to customers, internal meetings, or to the board there are some basics one should follow, and then there’s the more advanced techniques that make you look ‘slicker than the average’.
In this section we will explore and share some of the things that work for us, and hope they will help you deliver ever more effective presentations.
Take a step back. Before you rush in and burn some midnight oil, just take a step back from what you are being asked to do and consider ruthlessly how much time you have to prepare and what exactly your audience wants to hear. Often there is not as long as you would like to prepare and there is a gap between what you want to say ~ and what they want to hear.
Focus your attention on doing less slides / topics well, rather that cramming the encyclopedia Britannica onto 3 slides in 48 hours with limited typing skills. That’s the beginning of stress.
Bridge the gap (if there is one) between want they want to hear and what you want to say carefully. If there is contention you need to plan how to deal with it without running out of time.
Know your audience . This should enable you to pitch the level of detail correctly and ‘second guess’ the likely questions
Old clichés often hold true , like the Sergeant Major. Tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em. Then tell ‘em. Then tell ‘em what you’ve told ‘em.
Always talk through the agenda and timing, then move into the body of the presentation, and always finish with a summary of what you’ve said.
Practice with the tools you have . Know your technology and how to use it. Knowing how to link each slide to a ‘detail sheet’ or even another presentation is a very worthwhile skill. Not only will it help you answer questions and deal with issues in a very professional manner, it will also help you to vary your content as you go according to the time you have and the interest shown.
Always carry a spare bulb if you’re using a projector and an extension lead for power.
Always try and get into the room early and ensure the surrounding are as you would like them to be.
If there are a lot of people in the room it often helps to focus on one person as you start to present, even better if it’s someone you know. This has the effect of improving your focus and reduces nervousness as you ‘find your rhythm’.
Use stories where ever possible to illustrate / reinforce your content. Interest is often greater in human references, it’s easier to inject humor, and retention is better as people will always recount a good tale
As you review your presentation ask your self what the questions will be. As a rule of thumb you should be prepared to answer two questions on each piece of information you have on the screen.
We would like to offer a presentation review service to people who would like some impartial advice. Click here if you are interested in using this service.