Strategies for an Effective Business Presentation

By: George Chilton
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:43:05
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Selling Ideas

Where some people find selling impossible, others could sell balloon-modelling kits to porcupines. Don’t worry if you fit into the first group, because that’s where most people are. It’s normal to find yourself to be a little shaky when it comes down to standing up in front of your boss and the shareholder committee. Whether you’re delivering a financial report, new marketing scheme, or a brilliant new idea, you should strategize using the ‘Five P Rule’.

Ppppp…peas in a Pod

An effective presentation should encompass the “Five P’s.”

Product - Objective

You must be clear of your objectives from the start. Whatever the topic, you should always remember that you are selling an idea. What do they need to know? List all the questions your audience will have. Endeavour to answer them over the course of the presentation.

Be clear, concise and don’t waffle. Don’t repeat material, reinforce it with slides instead. Bullet point a summary of each section you cover.

Preparation

Prepare with plenty of time to spare. Research anything you need to know and ensure everything is correct. If you do it in a rush, you won’t be confident in your material. Nagging doubts take their toll and you will not be a convincing speaker.

When it comes to the performance itself, make sure you’re awake and fully-charged. Don’t drink too much caffeine (you’ll speak too quickly) and eat a good breakfast! If you’re not on the ball you’re likely to put them to sleep.

Practise

Practise so that you can speak with confidence. Don’t read from your notes. By all means, use bullet points on postcards, but if you start reading your audience will fall asleep!

If you’re practised you will be polished! Your auto-pilot will kick in, and you won’t have to think too hard – and you can focus on remaining clear and concise.

Presentation

Compose yourself. Make sure you’re smartly dressed. If you look professional half the battle is over. Keep slide-shows and PowerPoint simple. Images and illustrations are powerful – so only use them when necessary. They also allow you to keep track of yourself. It's easy to skip points - if you have a slide show you will remain focused and structured.

Perform

Use eye-contact and smiles. It’s by far the best way to connect with you audience. You don’t need to be an entertainer, but you do need to work the audience! Open body language and eye contact make you seem honest, open and you will hold audience interest. Remember; it is all about confidence. Work through the Five P’s and you will be well prepared.

If you believe it, they’ll believe it.

George Chilton is an experienced Advertising and SEO copywriter at Herds of Words. He has fourteen years experience as a magician and public speaker and can be contacted at george@herdsofwords.co.uk.

Or come join the herd at Herds of Words - Freelance Copywriters.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Public Speaking category

  • The Truth about Confident Women - By: Kelly McCausey
    As women a lot of us struggle with confidence. We compare ourselves to other women around us often finding a confident woman and wishing we were as confident as her. But don't judge a 'book' by it's cover - here's some key points about confident women.
  • Public Intoxication - By: Stella Janci
    The Texas Penal Code defines public intoxication as follows: A person commits the offense of Public Intoxication if the person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the person may be a danger to themselves or others. The elements that the state must prove are as follows: 1. A person. 2. That was in a public place. 3. That person was intoxicated. 4. The person was intoxicated to the degree that they may be a danger to themselves or others.
  • Charismatic Communication: Triggering the "I - Me" Response in Your Audience - By: Desmond Guilfoyle
    A major step in learning how to intone the soft music of charismatic communication is to recognise that some words have greater value than others. You may realise that words backed by honest intentions are more valuable than those that are not. Further, some words have the potential to dramatically increase the value of your linguistic cash at hand.
  • Charismatic Communication: A Lesson for Erring Ummers - Kicking the Habit of Errs and Umms - By: Desmond Guilfoyle
    Humour me for a moment. Please do not think of George Bush the Younger wearing a red tutu and sitting on the Queen of England’s face while lecturing her Foreign Secretary on effective ways in which to torture Donald Rumsfeld’s wife.O.
  • What Is The Role of A Toastmaster / Master of Ceremony - By: Ken Chaproniere
    We are familiar with the terms toastmaster or Master of Ceremony and probably associate them with royal or VIP occasions. Yet this need not be the case. A Toastmaster can make your special occasion a memorable one.
  • Why Is A Toastmaster Called A Toastmaster - By: Ken Chaproniere
    Where does the verb 'to toast' come from? When did it become associated with drinking? And just how does a Toastmaster stay sober whilst toasting all the guests?
  • A Public Speaking Nightmare - By: Paul Tobey
    Recently, I attended a keynote presentation by a major radio executive in Toronto. Which, may sound interesting enough but, what happened at this event may make you think twice about how fine tuned your public speaking skills really are!It all started innocently enough when a representative from the hosting organization got up to introduce the keynote speaker.
  • Public Speaking - The Money's in the Template - By: Paul Tobey
    The best public speakers in the world all agree on one thing. You can’t get good at public speaking without practice. That’s where some public speaking training seminars fail in teaching people how to do successful presentations.
  • After Dinner Speaking, Hero or Coward? - By: Roger Bourne
    During my time as Chairman of Forum, the Public Speaking Group of the Australian Institute of Management, I have often been asked about speaking after dinner.Before I discuss this opportunity, I want you to think back to a time when you were at a dinner event and the speaker came on.How did you and your party react?
  • Using Toys and Music in Training Sessions - By: Paul Archer
    As a trainer it is vital for you to be able to identify which areas of the course will be dry and tedious for the group, so that you can find a creative way to present the information, which will then lead to enhanced learning.Try creating some fun and laughter. Some trainers dismiss games and activities as time wasters or childish.