Lydia's Top Tips - June 2003
One of my clients recently asked me what to do when things don't go as planned. There are seven steps in preparing an effective, dynamic presentation and in fact - number seven is the most important as regards confidence:
Prepare a Parachute - make a Back-up Plan!
Preparing a back up plan is an important element, because your presentation may not go as planned. As a speaker, there are things outside of your direct control that may not go as you wish. Depending on the type of presentation you are giving, some problems you may encounter are:
- Visual Aids
- Audio Visual equipment
- Power facilities
- Illness or absence of support personnel
- Unexpected interruptions
- Loss of thought process or block during the presentation
You are not in a position to anticipate every problem. However the important point is to recognise that something could go wrong and you must have a fall-back position.
This means that in the worst of circumstances you have a back-up plan READY that will allow you to deliver your message to the audience. The plan should include an:
- Introduction
- Effective Opening
- Body
- Message
- Conclusion
It should be hard-copy and kept on you during the presentation - to be used as notes and if necessary actually read in a crisis moment. When you embed this into your preparation programs you will experience:
- Increased self-confidence
- Increased audience reception
Try it, you'll be surprised how much it will help you…
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