How To Keep The Energy High When Giving A Presentation
Your attitude when presenting a business idea to potential investors matters a lot. You want everyone to listen to you until the end. Of course, it’s a challenge to maintain high spirits, especially if there are only a few people in the room. You will also see people’s reactions and get discouraged. However, realize that your chance of succeeding increases with a positive attitude. Here’s how you can maintain energy until the end of your long presentation.
While you want to start the presentation with a bang, don’t use up your energy at once. Try pacing yourself. Your discussion could take about an hour or so. You don’t want to look exhausted towards the end. Remember that the listeners will receive your energy. If you lack energy, they might think you’re not interested. They might even think you can’t lead a team and succeed in running a business.
1. Believe in your ideas.
Sometimes, it’s hard to fake enthusiasm. You can pretend that you like your business ideas, but your investors will see through you. They will know if you’re not confident with what you’re putting out there. Hence, it helps if you only start pitching if you believe your ideas will succeed.
2. Use visual aids.
It’s hard if you keep talking without using visual aids. You can’t maintain the same energy level for over an hour. You’re not a machine. When using visual aids, it helps if you have a projector ceiling bracket to keep your projector securely in place. You won’t worry about how things will go if you can plug your computer in and display the slides. Keep your files interesting and easy to absorb.
3. Don’t let facial reactions get to you.
You might see these investors seemingly not interested in what you say. They might even look like they’re about to doze off. Never feel discouraged by what you see. It’s natural for them to look uninterested in your ideas. The truth is they’re still processing the information. Give them time to evaluate your pitch and decide. If you get discouraged, it’s easy for your energy to decline.
4. Think about positive results.
The pitch can go either way. There’s no guarantee that you will succeed. The investors might look eager, but they eventually say no. Things will be running in your head as you discuss your ideas. Let them go. Negative thoughts won’t help you as you present. Wait until the end of the pitch before thinking about how things went. If you wish to think ahead, make it more positive. Envision yourself working with these people as you commence your business. These thoughts will help you succeed in maintaining high spirits.
Again, you can’t feel down and nervous while pitching ideas. The investors can sense your energy even if they are across the room. They can also tell how sincere you are with your pitch. Hopefully, things work out well. If not, find out what went wrong and try to do better.
This article was written by Sarah Landrum and originally appeared on Your Coffee Break.