Business Presentation Problems - What To Do If - Part One

Your audience will usually understand and sympathise when things go wrong; but they’ll also expect you to be able to handle common situations. The key is to have a plan of action ready for “unexpected” events. Here are some of the more common, and suggestions for dealing with each. The good news is that most of them will probably never (or very, very rarely) happen to you...

The decision-maker leaves before you present your case If you follow the golden rule "Tell 'em what you are going to tell 'em, tell 'em, tell 'em what you told 'em," you can’t suffer this “disaster” . Always mention your main point and major supporting points within the first few minutes of any presentation. If a single decision-maker must leave, ask for a moment to summarise and state, in one sentence, the one point you want the individual to remember and, if you have a chance, the two main points to support this.

You are ready but the decision maker can't attend Even if the main person can't make it, someone in the room will be responsible for reporting to him or her. Ask yourself, "what, in one sentence, do I want this person to say - what action do I want them to recommend?" Then be sure you present that sentence, exactly as it should be repeated, both at the beginning and end of your presentation.

You find your allocated time has been cut Trying to talk faster isn’t the answer! Use a simple editing process after you have gathered your content. Know what you "must say", "should say" and "could ssay if time allows. This helps you to make sure the important points are covered and unimportant “extras” removed Your throat dries Stop and take a sip or two of water (always make sure you have some handy). Alternatively, you can try an actors’ trick of rolling a tiny piece of paper into a small ball and placing it between your gum and your facial tissue in the back of your mouth. It will stimulate the flow of saliva just like the wad of cotton the dentist uses. Try this at home first, though, so you are sure you are comfortable - and don’t sound like Marlon Brando in a “Godfather” movie.

(Look for more advice in part two)

Business Presentation Problems - What To Do If - Part One - To learn more about this author, visit Gordon Veniard's Website.

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