Speaking in front of an audience used to be the public’s Number One fear. According to a recent Forbes poll, it has dropped to Number Five behind:
1. Walking alone at night
2. Becoming the victim of identity theft
3. Safety on the internet
4. Being the victim of a mass/random shooting
That is quite a list. It is pretty amazing that public speaking is still in the top 5 fears. Simply getting up on stage and standing behind a microphone puts many into an unstoppable anxious and nervous sweat.
So much often rides on your delivering a powerful presentation…especially if you’re in sales. If you connect with your target audience and are persuasive enough, just think of all the new opportunities you will have to chase. And if you are leading the final pitch of a large and important deal, the stakes are high.
Ah, but if you should flub it…and that’s where the anxiety begins.
There are some antidotes. A really good sales presentation training program with individual coaching and videos can help you organize your content into a message that resonates and improves your delivery so that you appear confident even if you are not. And, of course, it takes practice…lots of it. Meantime, here are two good tips on how you can chase away that nightmare and realize your dream of a presentation that works.
1. Focus on the audience
Know as much as you can about the audience beforehand. This will clue you in to why they have come and what they hope to learn from you. Then you will be able to craft a compelling message that will appeal and inform. The key is not to think about yourself and your nervousness but to focus on their interest and concerns. Be more like a teacher who brings something of value to the classroom…superior knowledge of the subject, a passion for sharing that knowledge or point of view with others and a facility for welcoming comments or questions to stimulate deeper interest in your topic.
2. Respect your listeners
Pay attention to your attitude. Are you being condescending as the “subject matter expert?” Nothing will alienate an audience faster than arrogance during a presentation. Show a little humility. Perhaps you can tell a meaningful story that shows how you came to this field and some of the stumbling blocks you had to overcome. Bring the audience to your side. Win them over first; then you can begin to talk about your solution and how you think it could help their situation. You won’t have all the answers and you won’t persuade all. Your goal should be to inspire interest, to leave them with a compelling message, gain some new contacts and, hopefully, win some new business.
Learn more at: http://www.lsaglobal.com/sales-communication-sales-presentation-training/
