As an entrepreneur, selling a proposition or raising finance for your new enterprise can be a challenging task. You’ll need to prepare business presentations to convince prospective stakeholders of the viability of your proposition. The best way to get started is to look for business coaching with an expert who can guide you on how to go about this significant step. He will train you to prepare proposals, create slideshows, and project the positives of your ideas.
Your coach will likely explain that simply preparing and rehearsing your piece is not enough. No matter how good your ideas are, the ultimate deciding factor is how you present them and how the business presentation progresses. Here are some vital elements involved in the conducting of the meeting that you need to keep in mind.
1. Re-introduce Yourself
You’ll likely arrive early and mingle with the attendees outside the conference room. Before you get started with the presentation, begin with another introduction. Talk briefly about yourself and what you’re going to be discussing today. By doing this, you’ll build a connection with the people you did not have a chance to meet before. Have a happy and enthusiastic demeanor. Believe in the products and ideas you’re here to sell, and it will show in the way you present them and in your body language.
2. Make and Maintain Eye Contact
Make eye contact with every member of the audience. Hold the gaze for about 6 to 8 seconds. Any more than that and you’ll come across as rude and intrusive. Move on by turning to all the other attendees to include them in the conversation. If you need to shift a few paces to connect with the guests at the back of the room, do it. Walking around a little is also good. You can pitch your voice to all the corners of the room.
3. Use Interesting Opening Comments
Catch your audience’s attention with the first few remarks. The sooner you can set the mood of the business presentation, the more advantageous it will be. Using a funny story is a good move. Humor lightens the atmosphere and makes your guests feel closer to you. And, stories are always interesting.
4. Infuse Humor All Through the Presentation
While humor is always an excellent way to connect with the audience, there are some rules you must follow. Never target a specific person, company, or institution. Politics is another no-no since you have no idea about how your audience may react. You can use your jokes to target hypothetical people and circumstances. Self-directed humor is good because it helps you come across as human. Your listeners might relate to you because many of them will have been in the same situation at some time. When giving the business presentation, keep in mind that humor should not demean any particular gender, social strata, or group; or it can come across in bad taste.
5. Give Your Audience Processing Time
Each time you make a point or tell a joke, give your audience time to digest the information or enjoy the joke before you move on to the next. Look for cues like the laughter settling down or the guests directing their gaze back to you for what you have to say next. A bit of leaning forward will indicate that they have liked what you just said and that you can continue on the same note.
6. Read the Room
Continuing with the last point; read the room. Look for body language indications that will tell you whether your audience is listening. You may have a carefully planned sequence for your business presentation which you want to use. But, the idea is to work according to audience’s responses. The back and forth communication is very essential for the success of your talk. If you need to, skip some pointers and come back to them later.
7. Avoid Trade Jargon
Using specific terms that everyone from your industry knows and adopts is a good idea. However, if you think that you may have members in your audience that don’t know the language, avoid the terms altogether. Include terms in your business presentation that everyone is sure to understand.
Nothing is more boring than the drone of a speech. If you use this approach, even if you have a brilliant idea or an awesome product, there is no way your audience is going to want to buy it. So, use voice inflections. Stress on some words, pause every now and then for effect or pose questions to awaken interest.
Use words like “I,” “we,” “us,” and “you” in your business presentation. They will help you build closeness with your listeners. If you’re talking about a complex situation or procedure, move slowly step by step so your audience can catch up and ask questions if they’re unsure of what you’re saying.
9. Use the Audience Perspective
When creating your business presentation, use the approach that focuses on your listeners’ perspective. Think about why they should buy your products and how your ideas will be beneficial for them. Use that angle to convince them.
For instance, you’re offering a customer services department to assist the company with managing queries and complaints. Talk about how the company should be focusing on further growth. Talk about how having a distinct department can help them save the time and energy that they waste on managing customers. Remind them of how specialized services can help them address their customers’ complaints better.
10. Ask Questions
Asking questions helps you in many ways. For instance, you ensure that your audience has heard and understood what you were telling them. Invite engagement so they can reveal their thoughts and feedback on your business presentation so far. The information you get can help you design your further arguments. Most important, it keeps them interested, and you encourage a back and forth instead of just talking at them.
Be Confident and Enjoy Your Talk – You’re Sure to be Successful
The important thing about any business presentation is to have fun while you’re giving it. If you are relaxed and enjoying giving the talk, your audience will have fun listening to you. Express yourself with confidence to charm your audience and adopt all the self-assurance building tactics that typically help you.
For instance, when preparing for the presentation, pay careful attention to your attire and grooming. Small details like perfect hair and teeth, well-ironed clothes, well-maintained footwear, and clean, hairless skin can go a long way. If giving talks is something you may be doing a lot, check out all benefits of laser hair removal at a salon close to you. A few sessions and you won’t have to worry about bushy eyebrows, evening stubble, and any other grooming hassles for good.
Follow these ten tips, and you can build a great connection with your listeners. When considering your proposal, they’ll remember you and the sincerity you projected during your business presentation. You’re sure to clinch the deal.