Stand Up and Speak

This presentation skills article appeared in the public speaking magazine - MyBusiness.

The Board will probably be a combination of the two approaches. The board needs to make a safe and protected decision for their investors. But they also have their own jobs to consider.
Once you know what your conclusion will be, find evidence to support it. Research the markets and competition; calculate return on investment in great detail to support why you need that much credit. This is the data the bank wants. For the staff, show the new structure; give certainty in their position and reassurances about their jobs. People are not afraid of change; they are afraid of uncertainty.

The number of ideas that you can include in your presentation will be dictated largely by time you have. The amount of time you dedicate to each idea will be in accordance with its importance. As a general rule, allocate about 70 - 80% of your time to the body of the presentation and the remaining 20-30% to the opening and conclusion. This means that if you have 10 minutes to speak, you can spend 7-8 minutes on the body. Even at 3 minutes per idea, you can only get 2½ ideas across. If you cann’t explain your idea completely, don’t start. You’ll only sell it short. If the ideas need more time, either arrange some, or drop something.

The opening of a presentation is of great importance. As the old saying goes, you only have one chance to make a great first impression. If giving a formal presentation, thank anyone who has introduced you, and greet your audience.

Just like the conclusion, your audience and your goals will dictate the way that you open your presentation. Opening with a bold statement or a question can grab the audiences’ attention, but may not always be appropriate. Your bank manager may be more comfortable with a more conservative approach. If speaking to customers at a product launch, a bold, visionary statement may be needed. Asking questions, even rhetorical ones can be effective. However, be prepared for all possible answers, including those that you don’t want!

PREVIOUS                                      P1 | P 2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P 6 | P 7                      NEXT