Complete Transcription of bni podcast Episode 049 – Priscilla Rice

Priscilla:
Do you have any specifics on getting creative?
Ivan:
I can give you five points, five suggestions that I have for people who are nervous about doing presentations at their networking groups. First is prepare, prepare, prepare. Don’t wing it. Prepare an outline of what you want to say and practice it. Don’t read it. The idea is to have at least bullet points that you can touch upon. Don’t read it. Be prepared.
There are is nothing wrong with standing in front of a mirror and testing out your presentation. Here is a little secret. I have been speaking for decades. I still do that. I stand in front of a mirror and work out my material on the toughest audience — myself. It helps. It gives you a sense of timing. Then I will practice it with my wife. My wife, God bless her, she hears the first version of every speech I do. You know, practice it a little. Be prepared and you don’t have to wing it. That is number one.
Two, be specific and talk about the things you know best. To teach people they do. Focus on one to three areas because 10 minutes isn’t a lifetime. Cover the topics you feel you understand the best. That will reduce some of your stress because if it’s an area of your business that you know forwards and backwards, you know what? You are the expert. Nobody in the audience is as expert on that topic as you are. Show them your expertise. Prepare, be specific.
Three, use handouts, visuals or PowerPoint slides to support your presentation. For people who are worried about stage fright, these products can help carry them through. When making keynotes, I don’t usually use those things. But if I am trying to teach somebody something, then I use those things. I like visuals or PowerPoint’s. I don’t often use handouts. You can use handouts. The only problem with handouts is that people do get ahead of themselves. That is one reason to use PowerPoint because it keeps them on track. Use anything that helps you reduce some of your stress.
Four, remember you are the expert. And think about ways to help show them that that is not threatening to you. You are the expert as I have talked about before.
Five, be creative. Think of some way to communicate this information that you feel comfortable with. For the CPA, it was doing a test. See if you can find something like that. Feel free to try that. If you are afraid to speak, just write up a test. If 10 questions is too much, knock it down to five. You can get through five questions and open it up and it will easily take a 10 minute.
Those are the five things. Prepare, that is number one. Two, be specific. Three, use handouts, visuals or PowerPoint slides. Four, remember you are the expert. Number five, be creative. Those are the five suggestions that I would recommend, Priscilla.