There comes a time for every small business owner to deliver a presentation. This could happen inside the company to only a few people, or at a conference in front of hundreds. Instead of being nervous and blowing the entire thing, there are several great tips for anyone faced with a public speaking dilemma.
A fantastic presentation can have many positives for a company. It could be a boost to a financial plan, open up new opportunities and help network with potential business partners. Therefore, doing it well is important.
Don't let anxiety win
Many people are terribly afraid of public speaking, although the exact root of the fears could be attributed to something else, according to Entrepreneur magazine. For example, it could be a fear of criticism or messing up.
The best way to counter this is to identify it, the news source noted. That way, it can be addressed in a constructive manner and fixed before anyone ever sets foot on stage.
Shorter is better
Few public speakers have earned the right to drone on for hours on end. Most small business owners should always plan their presentation around brevity, Entrepreneur magazine explained. Similar to quality writing practices, concision is key.
Audiences will appreciate the effort if a speech is short, be it a company meeting or an industry get-together. Shorter speeches means more time for other things, which leaves room for other ways to positively impact a financial plan.
Interact with the audience
The best public speakers have an ability to connect with their audience just by talking. Small business owners can also capitalize on this, but take a more direct route – interacting before presenting, according to Forbes.
It can take place early on, in order to gauge the demographics of the audience and their preferences. It can also happen right before the speaker takes the stage, in order to disarm any nerves and appear more personable to the crowd.
Present a solid structure
Great presentations also have to be built as such, Forbes noted. This means that the outline needs to be solid, and it has to have a clear beginning, middle and end just like any other paper. An overall topic should be specific, and subpoints need to back up, support and elaborate on that goal.
Simplicity is better here, and fewer statistics work well. Anecdotes and real-world examples are all sound talking points for a speech. Presentations can be a useful tool for a small business, similar to mobile banking and other solutions. Anyone can become a great public speaker with some practice and adequate preparation.