THE ART OF BUSINESS PRESENTATION

I was given the task of presenting a one-minute speech to convince potential investors to invest in an idea. I suddenly became nervous. However, at the end of the exercise, I realised the importance of mastering the art of business presentation.

The fact that I have done a few presentations before did not help as I really do not know what will make sense within the short time given at that time.

Do you know that making a presentation in public is the number one fear for most people?

For some people, presenting in front of even a handful of listeners can be a nightmare. And when it’s a room full of important business folks, like investors, things get even worse.

Thus, I strongly believe that the art of business presentation is a skill that can be learned.

As a result of this, I would like to share some tips that helped me with my one-minute presentation in this post.

The following expert tips will help you deliver an unforgettable business presentation.

Organise and prepare content

You should have something worth talking about. Conceptualizing and framing what you want to say is the most vital part of preparation.

Also, it is important you know the points you are making, inside and out. With this, you can readily answer any questions that crop up.

Furthermore, you must consider what your audience knows about the subject and if they care about it. This will guide your engagement with the audience.

It is also important to limit the scope of your talk to that which can be explained, and brought to life with examples, in the available time.

Plan Your Delivery

Once your story is framed, the next thing is to focus on your delivery. You can develop a set of bullet points that map out what you’re going to say in each section rather than scripting the whole thing word for word. Or you can memorize your talk, which entails rehearsing it to the point where you internalize every word.

Please note that, if you do not have enough time to memorize your talk before the delivery, go with bullet points.

Also, the tone of your delivery is very important. Be mindful not to force it. Sound conversational.

Just be you.

Deal with fear of delivery

It is natural to be nervous when you go on stage or in front of people. The good news is that It gives you the energy to perform and keeps your mind sharp. Just keep breathing, and you will be fine.

The most important physical act onstage is making eye contact. Find five or six friendly-looking people in different parts of the audience and look them in the eye as you speak.

This will make a huge impact in dealing with your stage fright and anxiety.

Plan the Multimedia

Keep your slides and other visual aids simple. Also, avoid reciting word for word from the slides.

Practice

The more practice you can do, the better. It is advisable to practice the talk on your own and in front of an audience. This will allow you to get feedback before the real presentation and make amendments.

In conclusion, I have learnt that presentations are about the quality of the idea. It is about the substance and passion of the speaker.

The most important tip is to make the talk your own.

Thanks for reading.