Free Tools

10 Steps to Your Success

Rate Yourself Rate Your Employees
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

First take a “quick-read” of the 10 Steps. Rate yourself. Then read more in depth about the steps that interest you. Increase your presentation productivity and success by following these recommendations.

1: Channel Your Nervousness

  • Practice out loud.
  • Put yourself in a good mood.
  • Balance your life: food, rest, exercise, fun.
  • Create a group of supporters.
  • Really look at your audience.
  • Practice with the technology

2: Define Your Objective

  • Research your audience.
  • State your objective.
  • Use a format:
    • General Format
    • Benefit Selling
    • Report Progress
    • Strategy Recommendation
    • Communicating Bad News
    • Teaching Skills
more » more »

3: Organize Everything

  • Make your notes brief and readable.
  • Follow up on logistics.
  • Specialists: Cut the unnecessary “details.”
  • Review talk with someone not familiar with your subject.
  • Take out “jargon” and buzz words, spell out acronyms.

4: Create and Use Visuals

  • Select the visual media: electronic, overheads, slides, hard copy.
  • Vary the visuals.
  • Edit twice.
  • Practice using the equipment.
  • Have a back-up plan in case something is inoperable.
  • Talk to the audience, not the visual.
more » more »

5: Energize Yourself

  • Project your voice.
  • Use examples to keep your voice lively.
  • Make eye contact.
  • Change the pace.
  • Gesture to energize yourself.
  • Do a “real” rehearsal.

6: Motivate Your Audience

  • Establish rapport with your audience.
  • Control the room temperature and set-up so everyone can see you and your visuals.
  • Dress the role.
  • Appeal to all senses: visual, auditory and kinesthetic.
  • Use pictures, exercises, sounds, questions and examples.
more » more »

7: Conclude With Conviction

  • Keep a confident voice.
  • Have an energetic stance.
  • Plan concluding sentences and practice them out loud.
  • Vary your conclusion:
    • Facts
    • R”Just imagine” scenario
  • Conserve your energy to speak to people after your talk.

8: Manage Questions

  • Tell people when to ask questions: during the talk or at the end of the talk.
  • Talk to the whole audience when answering the question.
  • Ask, “Do you need more information now?”
  • Prepare your second conclusion for after the question period.
more » more »

9: Recommend Next Steps

  • Negotiate your recommendations.
  • Clarify people’s roles and responsibilities regarding the next steps.
  • Control the discussion-learn how to mediate conflict between people.
  • Have colleagues present for support.

10: Take The Leap

  • Be you! Use your unique talents.
  • Persevere! Don’t take no as the final answer.
  • Personalize! Tailor your talk to the audience.
  • Find your passion! Be passionate in speaking about your subject.
  • Use your humor, when appropriate.
more » more »

back to overview »