Giving presentations is one of the things people fear the most - ahead of death!
Psychologists say that we recall only seven percent of what we hear, but 80 percent of what we see. It is crucial therefore that visuals play a major part in your presentation.
We are living in the age of sound bites and 15-second commercials. There is no value in taking 15 minutes to say something that can be said concisely in a few minutes. Your clients do not need to know your company's history inside out. Usually, less is more.
What you say can close a major deal. You need to be sure that you are prepared for the questioning from your audience. Team practice before a pitch is vital to any pitfalls audience scrutiny might lead you into.
People are bombarded with presentations and speeches from business meetings to lunchtime briefings, to conferences, and then again after dinner. Most of them are too long and boring. Bear this in mind every time you speak for longer than 15-20 minutes - no-one leaves a conference saying "The speeches were too short."
Even professionals know the value of practise. Effective presenters are not born, they develop their skill through practise.
Projection and pace is key, pause for impact and sound interesting.
Focus on the audience and appear confident and controlled.
Scan everyone in the audience, share visuals - see and be seen.
'You have your own communication style and you should make the most of it'
“The Learning Point Presentations School provided invaluable advice, training and tips about structuring both written and verbal presentations not only ...”
Bruce Campbell, Chief Executive, Pyrford International Plc
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