Making presentations can be very intimidating. However, the skill is also essential to succeeding in the business world. Whether you are an entrepreneur or part of the corporate world, you will want to develop the ability to speak elegantly. Here are some tips you can follow to communicate effectively.
Learn Business Communication Styles and Practice Them
The business world has its own style of communication. You will want to understand how people expect you to speak before preparing your presentation. You may want to research some online MBA degree programs information to learn about business terminology people expect you to use.
You can also try joining a local Toastmasters group or volunteer to make a presentation at the Chamber of Commerce. See how receptive people are to your message and respond accordingly.
Know Your Audience
Never make a business presentation without knowing who your audience is ahead of time. Danielle Laporte is a well-known author and coach who admitted to making this mistake. She made a presentation to a group of single moms from impoverished backgrounds. They became very offended when she started talking to them about buying designer jewelry.
Always find out who your audience is ahead of time. This is pretty easy when you are going to be presenting in front of your coworkers, but you will want to know if any clients or other stakeholders will be at the meeting beforehand. Ask the host for more information if you are in doubt.
Find Your Message
What is the message that you are trying to convey to your audience? You need to have that in mind before you start the presentation.
You will need to communicate it clearly and consistently to your audience. You wont be able to do that if you haven’t found it yourself.
First Impressions are Essential
First impressions are essential in any business setting. They are even more important when you are making a presentation. Lead the way with an excellent opening line.
Your opening line can be a great joke, an interesting statistic or a question that begs for an answer. The important thing is to make sure that it is memorable.
Engage the Entire Audience
You need to present yourself professionally, but you will also want to keep your speech engaging. You want every single member of the audience to feel like you are speaking to them personally.
Make eye contact with everyone you are speaking to. Look into peoples eyes when they ask you a question, but return your attention to the entire group when you are answering it.
Know When to Wrap Up
You are probably given a limited amount of time to make your presentation. In some rare instances the host may not tell you how much time you have to speak even if you ask. In this case, you will need to use your own judgment.
Make sure that you don’t go over that time limit. You need to show respect for your audiences time and other people who may be speaking after you.