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Preparation Tips:

1. Get a good work out the day of or night before you present. Exercise helps get rid of excess adrenaline, increases confidence, posture etc.

2. Practice does not make perfect – but it does help with confidence. The definition of confidence is not that you won’t ever get nervous. We all get nervous. Confidence is knowing that if you get nervous you WILL recover. Practicing your material helps pave the way to recovering in a moment of nervousness or distraction.

3. Tell your co-workers and loved ones in advance that you are utterly and completely unavailable for an hour before the program begins until an hour after it is scheduled to end. Have back up childcare etc. if you have small children or pets that might need attention.

4. Print out your PowerPoint SLIDES so that you can add notes for yourself and so that during the presentation you can always see what is coming next without having to advance the slide on the viewing board.

5. Always, always, always check your AV at each location, each time you need it- far ahead of your start time. Even if you are sure-still check it. Check sound, electricity, computer connection etc.

6. Arrive early so you can own the room. Check temperature (too cold is better than too warm-but don’t try to please everyone-tell them to bring a sweater).

7. Tell your team what to bring, what you expect and how to behave BEFORE they show up.

8. Try and plan for every possible thing that can wrong and then let go.

“It’s all about the message-not the messenger.” Juanell Teague (speaker coach)

During the Presentation:

9. Take your time with the material. Remind yourself that there is a lot of wisdom and experience in the room. Rely on your teaching partner and honor the group, your teaching partner and yourself. If you do this you cannot go wrong.

10. Avoid checking email, texts etc. during the presentation because that could cost you your presence. Don’t allow others to talk to you about business unrelated to this program while you are giving the program-it will keep. You have worked this hard to assemble all of these people-stay in the room with them. On the breaks connect with individuals-not the outside world. Prep for the next section.

11. If you forget something or make a mistake say-”I forgot” or “I made a mistake” and let it go.

12. Remember that what you say from the front of the room is what people will think about and remember-so avoid apologies about temperature, environment, handouts or any other things that YOU cannot change. Talk about what you want them to remember- how great they are, how honored you are, etc.

13. Relax, everything will turn out fine. If everything fell apart and the slides did not work and the preparation all failed and you did nothing but talk to people and ask for their feedback and wisdom about up selling and cross selling and talked about your guests then it would have been a great day. Everything else is a bonus.

“Be sincere; be brief; be seated.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

I will soon conclude a 3-year term as president of a 125-year-old private membership organization whose mission is social. I’ve been a member for 15 years and a Board member for 10 years. I’ve found the experience to be tremendously rewarding. I’ve made friends. I’ve further developed and refined my leadership skills.

I’ve been fortunate to preside over a Board that is comprised of top-drawer members who are committed to the organization and who’ve work diligently to develop strategies and plans that will sustain the group over the short- and long-term. I’m proud to say that throughout my presidency, I encouraged Board and Committee members to do their best work and then I got out of the way and let them do it.

To become an organization leader is to become its public face and unifying symbol to the members. Public speaking is part of the job. It is often necessary to offer words of inspiration and encouragement and verbally demonstrate that you as the leader embody the vision, mission and values of the organization. There will be impromptu speaking “opportunities” that arise and surprise! Someone asks you to say a few words.

Likewise, in the professional sector, one will be asked to speak ex tempore about business products and services. These speaking obligations may be unscheduled, but they are not completely unexpected, since one attends certain events with the desire to meet and greet peers and prospects and talk business. Still, how does one successfully make an unrehearsed speech and manage to sound reasonably informed and eloquent?

Finally, there are scheduled speaking opportunities, when one steps up to the podium and formally addresses an audience.Three types of speaking opportunities: how can you stand and deliver?

I. Let’s start with the easiest, the business meet and greet. This is where your elevator speech is delivered. You must decide which version to roll out. Are you being introduced to someone and asked what you do? Then your elevator speech will be conversational and limited to what the business provides, your role or title and the name of the organization. Give a general description of the outcomes or benefits of the service you provide or products you sell. Formulate a sentence that describes the business function and your role, with a focus on benefits and outcomes. Provide more information only if the person seeks more information. Make the encounter a dialogue by asking questions of your own, to determine whether this individual has a need for your products and services, or if you can refer this person to another of your colleagues and create a new relationship as you do.

2. I’ve unexpectedly been invited to address my organization members and I’ve done a good job. How did I do it? Primarily, I was fortunate to have a very good set-up introduction and beforehand, I was smart enough to listen and make note of key phrases on which I could launch a quick little speech. I’ve recognized good tag lines and themes that I could spin into a three-minute talk. The moral of the story is, a leader must anticipate public speaking obligations. Keep your antennae tuned for anecdotes or observations made by members or others that can be used as the basis of a quick talk.

3. Regarding scheduled presentations, I pass along to you my interpretation of a Power Point presentation template developed by Bahar Martonosi of Princeton University. You may find this template useful when auditioning for a prospective client or delivering a report of findings during a consulting assignment:

• Your name and the business name (1 slide)
• Project outline: work that the prospect would like performed (1 slide)
• Rationale: why is the project or problem important to the organization ( 1 – 2 slides)
• History: what has been done before (1- 2 slides)
• Method: your firm’s approach to the project or problem (1 – 3 slides)
• Results: the body of the talk. Present the key results and findings. Do not present all results or findings. (2 – 6 slides)
• Summary: (1 – 2 slides)
• Back-up: prepare slides that answer expected questions (1 – 3 slides)

Keep things simple and focus on a few important points. Repeat the key insights. Know your audience and adjust the presentation as needed. The post-presentation informal Q & A is very important.

Make eye contact, be approachable and it’s OK to smile (but this is business, not social, so know your role). Make your audience want to learn more.

Thanks for reading,

Kim