| Whether you are an investor, | | | | an extension cable, a power strip, |
| entrepreneur, employee, self-employed or | | | | adaptors, and backup |
| unemployed the ability to present | | | | batteries.PROTECTThe day before and the |
| yourself and your ideas powerfully has | | | | day of an important presentation, avoid |
| never been more important than in | | | | alcohol, smoke, caffeine, chocolate, and |
| today's dynamic information age. | | | | antihistamines because of their drying |
| Speaking well can influence other's | | | | effects. If flying, recycled air in |
| views, close a deal, motivate your team, | | | | planes is dehydrating and speaking above |
| enhance your business, and elevate your | | | | engine noise can put a strain on your |
| reputation.Many people get jitters | | | | voice so talk as little as possible |
| speaking in public. Lilly Walters | | | | in-flight. A moist vocal tract will |
| author of "Secrets of Successful | | | | give you the best sound with the least |
| Speakers" says 75% of stage fright can | | | | amount of physical exertion. To stay |
| be reduced by rehearsal and preparation, | | | | hydrated, consume eight to ten glasses |
| 15% by deep breathing, and 10% by mental | | | | of water daily.To prevent excess mucus, |
| preparation. Thorough preparation | | | | avoid dairy products and sugar. Grain |
| alleviates anxiety and ultimately | | | | alcohol, vodka, beer, and red wine can |
| provides a consistent structure for | | | | also increase mucus. If you cannot |
| achieving extraordinary | | | | avoid alcohol, choose white wine before |
| results.PREPARECreate template | | | | a presentation.Sufficient sleep is |
| presentations before you need them. If | | | | absolutely essential to maximum |
| you use power point, keep text to a | | | | performance.PRIME1. In the morning, do a |
| minimum with only one idea, no more than | | | | good physical workout to give you energy |
| six lines per slide, large, readable, | | | | and focus for the day.2. Do some |
| and consistent fonts. Most business | | | | self-massage and vocal warm ups in the |
| people prefer little to no slide | | | | shower. Massage the base of your |
| animation. Summarize often. Never read | | | | tongue, the temporomandibular joint |
| from your slides/flipcharts and always | | | | (just by your ears between your cheeks |
| face your audience. Remember, you are | | | | and jaw) and neck and shoulders. Make |
| the star not your visual aids.Customize | | | | funny faces to exercise facial muscles, |
| for your audience. Go to websites and | | | | do your favorite tongue twisters, and |
| printed materials to gather information | | | | sing an uplifting song.3. Before and |
| like vision, mission and values first. | | | | during your presentation, drinks should |
| Then interview relevant people to find | | | | be without carbonation and not too hot |
| out where the "pain" is in relation to | | | | or too cold. Avoid combining protein |
| your product, service, or topic. Ask | | | | and starch in the same meal and only eat |
| questions like, what are the internal | | | | fruit on an empty stomach.4. Run through |
| external challenges/changes your | | | | your presentation physically if you have |
| organization is currently facing? What | | | | the time.5. Arrive early. Set up well in |
| is the objective/purpose for the | | | | advance. Test and double-check all |
| meeting? What result would you like to | | | | equipment.6. Own the room imagining your |
| see achieved? Are there others | | | | energy fills the entire space extending |
| presenting? If so, who are they and | | | | to all walls and corners. State your |
| where are they on the schedule? How much | | | | intention aloud four times facing a |
| time will I have? How much Q&A should | | | | different wall or direction each time. |
| be included in my total presentation | | | | (i.e. "to win the business")7. Close |
| time? Is there anything else you could | | | | your eyes. In your mind's eye, imagine a |
| add to help me do an even better job?Get | | | | person, place, or thing that you love. |
| details like the date, directions to | | | | If you are religious or spiritual, you |
| venue, meeting start/end times, | | | | may want to connect with your higher |
| presentation start/end times, dress | | | | power. Allow six or more deep breaths. |
| code, attendees, VIP's, agenda, | | | | Breathe in love on the inhale and on the |
| equipment availability, etc. If you're | | | | exhale, let go of any tension, anxiety, |
| flying in, ask about the closest airport | | | | or stress.8. With your eyes still |
| and number of miles/kilometers to venue, | | | | closed, mentally run through your |
| recommended transport from airport to | | | | presentation. Visualize success seeing |
| meeting site or hotel and all contact | | | | your desired outcome.9. Play a fast |
| phone numbers. If you are meeting | | | | piece of music you love, dance, or walk |
| overseas, inquire about business and | | | | briskly around the presentation room to |
| cultural etiquette.Organize memorable | | | | pump yourself up and burn excess |
| openings and closings by asking a | | | | adrenaline. If it's not possible for you |
| question, mentioning something relevant | | | | to do this, run in place or jump up and |
| in the news, using a quotation or audio | | | | down for 20-30 seconds somewhere |
| video clip. Most adults are visual so be | | | | private. If neither is possible, do |
| creative. Weave humor throughout your | | | | simple isometric exercises, tensing and |
| talk. If you don't consider yourself to | | | | releasing muscles while sitting or |
| be funny, use humorous photos, drawings, | | | | standing.10. Acknowledge yourself for |
| unusual clip art, quotes or media clips. | | | | the time and energy you have invested to |
| Never tell a story or joke that would | | | | do your best. Trust and BE |
| remotely offend anyone. Relate your | | | | yourself.PRESENTStart and stop on time. |
| closing to your opening coming full | | | | Address audience comfort before you |
| circle. Answer questions. End with a | | | | begin. Be flexible and able to cut your |
| strong summary and a compelling call to | | | | presentation short, if necessary. Make |
| action.PRACTICEWhen your content is | | | | direct eye contact and speak to your |
| ready, start practicing aloud. Pay | | | | audience as if you were having a |
| special attention to or memorize your | | | | conversation with a friend. Move around |
| beginning, key points, and ending. If | | | | and gesture freely. Smile, have fun, and |
| you need insurance, use note cards or | | | | be enthusiastic about what you are |
| visual cues. During this process, you | | | | saying. Focus on delivering maximum |
| will inevitably make revisions and | | | | value to your listeners. Now, it is all |
| improvements. After rehearsing aloud | | | | about them.PLAYBACKIf you can, record |
| several times, record yourself on video. | | | | all of your presentations on video for |
| Time yourself. Watch your practice | | | | playback and feedback. A discreet |
| session and make adjustments until you | | | | alternative is a pocket-sized audio |
| are comfortable with your content and | | | | recorder. Recordings are especially |
| delivery.PLANPlan what to wear in | | | | useful for capturing questions, |
| advance choosing clothes that make you | | | | objections, comments, and action items. |
| look and feel great. Dress | | | | Always leave a handout, flyer, brochure, |
| appropriately. To gain instant respect | | | | or business card making it easy for |
| and boost your confidence, dress a bit | | | | people to contact you.The path to |
| better than your audience does.Reconfirm | | | | mastery is practice. Confucius said, "A |
| date, time, venue, and agenda. If you | | | | journey of a thousand miles begins with |
| are traveling for your meeting, pack | | | | a single step." Enjoy the |
| early including a checklist for last | | | | journey.Copyright 2006 Deborah Torres |
| minute items. Always have a multimedia | | | | PatelDeborah Torres Patel helps people |
| CD backup, wireless remote and carry | | | | express themselves with ease and |
| everything you will need for your | | | | confidence. |
| presentation with you. To be safe, carry | | | | |