![]() ![]() Some like to bring a soft cushion and their comfort blanket and duck off to a room for a lay-down between presentations.Ī friend, and great speaker whom I admire, gave me the tip of doing a power-woman pose while looking in the mirror right before going onstage. Many speakers think they will be just fine and then the nerves hit and they find they can't ad lib like they anticipated. Be aware of how you behave when nervous and plan how to relax. Know that you will be nervous beforehand. Know how you behave under stress and mitigate this Not your fault and not your people’s fault, but best to have a Plan B. The conference organiser will say they have it, the tech people will say they’ve loaded it and then when you are on stage, you’ll find out they haven’t (yes, this happened). In addition to emailing it to the conference organiser, bring the preso on your phone, USB and any other device you can. She was intelligent and made witty comments, but only half of what she said could be heard. I’ve seen a talented exec done a disservice because she wore a lovely shirt that was a nightmare to mic up. ![]() Don't wear your lanyard or jewelry that might clink. You should also work out where your mic will go (on you). Some speaking circuit regulars bring their own equipment, but this increases the risk of technical issues when changing speakers. There is nothing worse than being stuck behind a lectern with a clicker the size of a 80s phone. If your feet are killing you half way through, at least you can commiserate with the Queen and former First Lady, Michelle Obama.įind out if you will be miked up. ![]() Wear comfortable shoes as you could be standing for nearly an hour. If you know you will be sitting down, a short or even mid-length skirt on a stage is probably not the best option. Wear something with colour as all black can look a bit harsh on the stage (I learnt this the hard way - see pic above) and consider what the event branding colours are to avoid any nasty visual clashes. Your clothing needs to match the presentation, venue and audience. Ok, so this is mainly for the ladies, who have many more business clothing options than men. I am sure your media team will also appreciate a heads up if journalists might be there. Be clear on what you can and cannot say and what issues you need to lightly dance around. If you work in a large organisation, it is especially important to connect with your media and social media teams and be briefed on any issues that might come up during the Q&A. Be especially vigilant if someone else has prepared a presentation for you they might have missed some of the political subtleties. Good speeches have the power to change history. ![]() Go back to the initial reason why you are giving the presentation and make sure your final product does what you intended it to do.Ĭheck that it is framed in a way that will persuade your audience. The advice I give all of my clients: Once you think you are ready, stop. I also run it past others who know the audience they can help pick up on when certain ideas need further explanation and often suggest what the audience may ask at the end. If you’re feeling brave, go for the video recording to remove any mannerisms others are too shy to bring to your attention. Listening back to the recording also helps me get the rhythm and key phrases into my head. I then record myself presenting so I can hear when I hesitate or when words sound clunky. If I am presenting on a topic for the first time, I find it helps to write a rough script to go with the slides. You wouldn’t wing it with a glossy brochure, so why would you skimp on a presentation? Prepare, prepare, prepare. So, in answer to the many questions, yes, I think it is worth the hours of preparation, stress and engaging with others to come up with a quality product. Some people are naturally more gifted than others, but we all have the ability to learn and improve. It not only shows who you are and where you stand, but it is such a valuable medium for convincing others to see your point of view and follow you. Public speaking is an essential skill for a leader. As a communications professional I’ve helped numerous leaders prepare for small speeches and big presentations, but it wasn’t until I actually took to the stage that I twigged on some little but important things to add to the preparation list. I’m presuming here that you know the basics and have a great presentation in hand. ![]()
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