Presenting Effectively to Win Business
39112
Product Reviews > Book Reviews
Jul 4, 2007
Galway
Presenting Effectively to Win Business
We are all familiar with the old adage 'it's not what you know, but who you know'. In business, it's equally true that it's not what you know, but how you put it across that counts. Few people are born with a natural talent for presentation skills and good business communication. The good news is that presentation skills can be learnt. Business is about winning You may not be in a sales role but if you are in a profession or a service industry and have to 'pitch for business', how you present yourself and your organisation is as important as what you say. Prepare well When you've worked hard for the opportunity to make a new business pitch, you must prepare thoroughly. You will probably only get one chance so be sure you have the answers to the following questions: Who are your audience? - how many people, what do they know about the subject, and what do they expect from you What main points do you want to get across? - that you know your subject, you understand their business, you have clear objectives, and are results-orientated or will provide great service? How long is your presentation? - establish how much time you have and whether this includes a period for questions. Where will you be presenting? - do you know the size of the room and the layout? Structure your presentation The content of your presentation will vary according to the requirements of the potential client. In general: - people can only take on board three or four main points so agree what they are - clients are much more interested in hearing about themselves and what you can do for them, so keep your credentials short and relevant - focus on what's in it for the client or prospect - emphasise what makes you different Selecting your visual aids The basic rules are: - use as few as possible - keep them simple and avoid too much detail - make sure they have the equipment you need Use positive body language Standing, looking confident and smiling will give a good initial impression, even if you feel nervous. Remember these points to enhance your presentation skills and come across with impact: - maintain eye-contact to build rapport quickly - use meaningful gestures to emphasise key points - use prompt cards or brief notes - if you present with a team, listen to your colleagues when they're speaking Develop an interesting voice If you speak in a monotonous drone your audience will soon stop listening. Put plenty of expression into your voice. - pause and slow down to eradicate fillers such as "errs" and "ums" - don't let your voice trail off at the end of sentences - keep up the energy - vary your pitch and don't rush through it Practice makes perfect There's no substitute for thorough preparation and practise if you want to develop your presentation skills. In any case remember: - if presenting as part of a team, ensure that everyone is present for the rehearsals - do at least one complete run-through with no interruptions. Time it and, if necessary, condense without disturbing the "flow". Never over-run. - anticipate and prepare for likely questions - practise handovers - Presentations skills training can help you get valuable feedback on your approach Enjoy yourself Attention to detail, preparation and practise take time - but you will probably only get one chance to get it right. The difference between success and failure lies in the effort you put in. Who knows, your presentation skills could end up not only winning you business, and you may find you actually enjoy the experience.
Shaun Parker investigates how presentation skills can benefit your business. When combined presentation skills and personal impact training can be the key ingredient to delivering sales pitches with confidence and winning business.
send email to Galway
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links at Product Reviews > Book Reviews
What would your life be like if you stopped compromising? What would your day be like if you stopped watering down what you wanted and began listening to what was important to you? A look at how to live your life without compromise.
Category:
I have already discussed what a fork can teach us about life and creating the life of our dreams. Let's talk about one more topic on what something as simple as a fork can teach us about life and everything we need to know in order to manifest, attract, a
Category:
Most of us were raised to believe there is a lack of abundance in the world--a limited amount of money and resources that we must fight over like rats competing over scraps of cheese! Attracting wealth into your life requires you to challenge and replace
Category:
Are you someone who cannot see some one else in distress? Do you help strangers and also like it? Then being a life coach will turn your passion into a career.
Category:
There are football-training programs for youth in progress throughout the year, and since they follow the principles outlined by the National Football League, many parents are willing participants in these programs because they are assured that their chil
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68285
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
