Regardless of what you do in life, you need to physically present yourself well, along with your ideas powerfully in today’s dynamic age of information. The key is communicating well to get your point across.
What speaking well does is influences viewpoints, closes deals, motivates listeners, enhances your business, while elevating your reputation.
Whether you’re an investor, employee, entrepreneur, or unemployed, the ability to present yourself and your ideas well has never been more important.
Most however will get the jitters, especially when speaking in public. What’s known is this stage fright can be reduced by preparation.
It can be as easy as breathing deeply while preparing yourself mentally.
What preparation and practice alleviates is anxiety, which ultimately provides a foundation for achieving extraordinary results.
Preparing Beforehand
Start by creating template presentations using Power Point. Just present one idea at a time. Use no more than six lines per slide using large readable fonts. Most prefer little to no slide animation.
Summarize often, never read directly from your slides and always face your audience. Keep in mind that the audience focuses on you, and not the visual aids.
Condition your audience, provide printed material such as your mission statement and values first. Find out what type of “pain” that they’re facing and how your product, service, or topic can solve it.
Address these challenges, outline the objectives and purpose of the meeting. Discuss what the audience wants to hear or what they can achieve.
Have A Strong Message
Are the other presenters offering similar products to yours. When are they presenting, how much time are you allocated, is there a Q&A, and if so, is it included in your total presentation time.
Get the date, directions to venue, presentation start/end times, dress code, attendees, equipment availability, all beforehand. Know the environment, know the business and cultural etiquette.
Have memorable openings and closings, this by asking a question. Mention relevant news, use a quotation or a video clip. Most like visuals so be creative.
Use humor throughout your talk. If you’re not funny, use humorous photos, clip art, quotes, or memes. Never tell a joke that would even remotely offend one person. Relate your closing statement to your opening, coming full circle.
Practice Makes Perfect
Once your content is ready, then practice out loud. Pay close attention by memorizing your start, key points, and the ending. If you need a guide, use note cards or visual cues.
During this process is when you’ll make revisions and improvements. After rehearsing several times, record and time yourself on video. Review your practice session, make adjustments, be critical until you’re satisfied with your content and delivery.
Plan Of Attack
Plan in advance what to wear, choose appropriate clothes which makes you look and feel great. Dressing well gains you instant respect while boosting your confidence. Always dress slightly better than your audience.
Reconfirm the date, time, agenda, and venue. If traveling, pack early and have a checklist of last minute items. Always carry your multi-media and notes that you need for your presentation with you.
Preventative Maintenance
The day before the presentation, avoid excessive alcohol, too much caffeine, chocolate, unsettling food, and antihistamines, this because of their dehydrating effects.
If flying, the air in planes is thin, so speaking can put a strain on your voice so save it. A moist vocal tract gives you the best vocal sound with the least physical exertion. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of lemon water.
To avoid mucus buildup, stay away from dairy products and sugar. Grain alcohol, vodka, red wine, and beer can also increase mucus. If you’re unable to avoid alcohol, then drink white wine. Make sure you get sufficient sleep for maximum performance.
Planning Your Day
• Begin with a vigorous physical workout in the morning to burn off nervousness, which also provides energy and focus
• Do vocal warm-ups in the shower. Massage the base of your tongue, cheeks, jaw, neck, and shoulders. Make contorting faces to exercise your facial muscles, repeat tongue twisters, or sing a favorite song
• Before and during the presentation, avoid carbonated drinks or anything too hot or too cold. Avoid combining starch and protein in the same meal. Eat fruit on an empty stomach
• Rehearse your entire presentation physically, imagine the room and how your energy fills the entire space. State your intention several times, such as “to win your business.”
• Close your eyes and imagine a person or place that you love. If you’re spiritual, connect with your higher power. Allow several more deep breaths. Inhale love and confidence, exhale tension, anxiety, and stress
• Play music you like, dance, walk around the presentation room to pump yourself up while burning off adrenaline
• Run on the spot, jump up and down for a minute privately. Do simple isometric exercises such as tensing and releasing your muscles while sitting or standing
Your Presentation
Be prompt by starting and ending on time. Relax and relate with the audience before you begin. Remain flexible by altering your presentation to suit the audience.
If possible, make eye contact while speaking to your audience as if you were having a conversation one on one.
Move around while gesturing freely. Smile, have fun, always be enthusiastic about what you’re saying. Focus on delivering maximum value, it’s all about them.
Playback And Feedback
If your presentation isn’t recorded, then get someone to video your presentation for playback and feedback later. An alternative is a pocket audio recorder.
These recordings are also useful for reviewing questions, comments, objections, and actionable items. Always make sure that you leave a handout, brochure, or a business card so anyone can easily contact you.
The path to any type of mastery is practice. Any journey begins by taking a single step, to take action and then learning and building from there.