| Whether you are an investor, entrepreneur, | | | | power strip, adaptors, and backup batteries. |
| employee, self-employed or unemployed the | | | | PROTECT |
| ability to present yourself and your ideas | | | | The day before and the day of an important |
| powerfully has never been more important than in | | | | presentation, avoid alcohol, smoke, caffeine, |
| todays dynamic information age. Speaking well | | | | chocolate, and antihistamines because of their |
| can influence others views, close a deal, motivate | | | | drying effects. If flying, recycled air in planes is |
| your team, enhance your business, and elevate | | | | dehydrating and speaking above engine noise can |
| your reputation. | | | | put a strain on your voice so talk as little as |
| Many people get jitters speaking in public. Lilly | | | | possible in-flight. A moist vocal tract will give you |
| Walters author of Secrets of Successful | | | | the best sound with the least amount of physical |
| Speakers says 75% of stage fright can be | | | | exertion. To stay hydrated, consume eight to ten |
| reduced by rehearsal and preparation, 15% by | | | | glasses of water daily. |
| deep breathing, and 10% by mental preparation. | | | | To prevent excess mucus, avoid dairy products |
| Thorough preparation alleviates anxiety and | | | | and sugar. Grain alcohol, vodka, beer, and red |
| ultimately provides a consistent structure for | | | | wine can also increase mucus. If you cannot avoid |
| achieving extraordinary results. | | | | alcohol, choose white wine before a presentation. |
| PREPARE | | | | Sufficient sleep is absolutely essential to maximum |
| Create template presentations before you need | | | | performance. |
| them. If you use power point, keep text to a | | | | PRIME |
| minimum with only one idea, no more than six | | | | 1. In the morning, do a good physical workout to |
| lines per slide, large, readable, and consistent fonts. | | | | give you energy and focus for the day. |
| Most business people prefer little to no slide | | | | 2. Do some self-massage and vocal warm ups in |
| animation. Summarize often. Never read from | | | | the shower. Massage the base of your tongue, |
| your slides/flipcharts and always face your | | | | the temporomandibular joint (just by your ears |
| audience. Remember, you are the star not your | | | | between your cheeks and jaw) and neck and |
| visual aids. | | | | shoulders. Make funny faces to exercise facial |
| Customize for your audience. Go to websites and | | | | muscles, do your favorite tongue twisters, and |
| printed materials to gather information like vision, | | | | sing an uplifting song. |
| mission and values first. Then interview relevant | | | | 3. Before and during your presentation, drinks |
| people to find out where the pain is in relation to | | | | should be without carbonation and not too hot or |
| your product, service, or topic. Ask questions like, | | | | too cold. Avoid combining protein and starch in the |
| what are the internal/external challenges/changes | | | | same meal and only eat fruit on an empty |
| your organization is currently facing? What is the | | | | stomach. |
| objective/purpose for the meeting? What result | | | | 4. Run through your presentation physically if you |
| would you like to see achieved? Are there others | | | | have the time. |
| presenting? If so, who are they and where are | | | | 5. Arrive early. Set up well in advance. Test and |
| they on the schedule? How much time will I have? | | | | double-check all equipment. |
| How much Q&A should be included in my total | | | | 6. Own the room imagining your energy fills the |
| presentation time? Is there anything else you | | | | entire space extending to all walls and corners. |
| could add to help me do an even better job? | | | | State your intention aloud four times facing a |
| Get details like the date, directions to venue, | | | | different wall or direction each time. (i.e. to win the |
| meeting start/end times, presentation start/end | | | | business) |
| times, dress code, attendees, VIPs, agenda, | | | | 7. Close your eyes. In your minds eye, imagine a |
| equipment availability, etc. If youre flying in, ask | | | | person, place, or thing that you love. If you are |
| about the closest airport and number of miles | | | | religious or spiritual, you may want to connect |
| kilometers to venue, recommended transport | | | | with your higher power. Allow six or more deep |
| from airport to meeting site or hotel and all | | | | breaths. Breathe in love on the inhale and on the |
| contact phone numbers. If you are meeting | | | | exhale, let go of any tension, anxiety, or stress. |
| overseas, inquire about business and cultural | | | | 8. With your eyes still closed, mentally run through |
| etiquette. | | | | your presentation. Visualize success seeing your |
| Organize memorable openings and closings by | | | | desired outcome. |
| asking a question, mentioning something relevant | | | | 9. Play a fast piece of music you love, dance, or |
| in the news, using a quotation or audio/video clip. | | | | walk briskly around the presentation room to |
| Most adults are visual so be creative. Weave | | | | pump yourself up and burn excess adrenaline. If |
| humor throughout your talk. If you dont consider | | | | its not possible for you to do this, run in place or |
| yourself to be funny, use humorous photos, | | | | jump up and down for 20-30 seconds |
| drawings, unusual clip art, quotes or media clips. | | | | somewhere private. If neither is possible, do |
| Never tell a story or joke that would remotely | | | | simple isometric exercises, tensing and releasing |
| offend anyone. Relate your closing to your | | | | muscles while sitting or standing. |
| opening coming full circle. Answer questions. End | | | | 10. Acknowledge yourself for the time and |
| with a strong summary and a compelling call to | | | | energy you have invested to do your best. Trust |
| action. | | | | and BE yourself. |
| PRACTICE | | | | PRESENT |
| When your content is ready, start practicing aloud. | | | | Start and stop on time. Address audience |
| Pay special attention to or memorize your | | | | comfort before you begin. Be flexible and able to |
| beginning, key points, and ending. If you need | | | | cut your presentation short, if necessary. Make |
| insurance, use note cards or visual cues. During | | | | direct eye contact and speak to your audience as |
| this process, you will inevitably make revisions and | | | | if you were having a conversation with a friend. |
| improvements. After rehearsing aloud several | | | | Move around and gesture freely. Smile, have fun, |
| times, record yourself on video. Time yourself. | | | | and be enthusiastic about what you are saying. |
| Watch your practice session and make | | | | Focus on delivering maximum value to your |
| adjustments until you are comfortable with your | | | | listeners. Now, it is all about them. |
| content and delivery. | | | | PLAYBACK |
| PLAN | | | | If you can, record all of your presentations on |
| Plan what to wear in advance choosing clothes | | | | video for playback and feedback. A discreet |
| that make you look and feel great. Dress | | | | alternative is a pocket-sized audio recorder. |
| appropriately. To gain instant respect and boost | | | | Recordings are especially useful for capturing |
| your confidence, dress a bit better than your | | | | questions, objections, comments, and action items. |
| audience does. | | | | Always leave a handout, flyer, brochure, or |
| Reconfirm date, time, venue, and agenda. If you | | | | business card making it easy for people to |
| are traveling for your meeting, pack early including | | | | contact you. |
| a checklist for last minute items. Always have a | | | | The path to mastery is practice. Confucius said, A |
| multimedia CD backup, wireless remote and carry | | | | journey of a thousand miles begins with a single |
| everything you will need for your presentation | | | | step. Enjoy the journey. |
| with you. To be safe, carry an extension cable, a | | | | |