Promotion presentation: Form good habits

We all dream of the perfect promotion presentation.

Where we wow the board from start to finish.

But this is a dream for a reason.

It seems so unlikely to happen in reality.

There is one thing you can do right now to take a step closer to this becoming reality, though.

It’s to change the way you communicate.

Permanently.

And it starts with forming new habits.

Wait, what?

In the presentation skills courses we run around the world, we share the same advice.

Change how you communicate for good.

Most of us do something similar every January 1st.

We resolve to do things better than last year.

But the reason most fail is simple.

We’re looking to change things for a while.

Until we get bored or forget.

Resolutions to stop snacking or to go to the gym.

Or, in our case, to nail that big promotion presentation.

What we need to develop is good habits.

So let’s get into how we do that.

Slaves to routine

The reason many people present poorly is bad habits.

Things like using the same deck of slides they’ve come to rely on.

Or throwing the presentation together at the last moment.

Or going into it without proper rehearsal.

Leading to a poor performance.

We’re told this by clients who visit our Glasgow studios.

Or who book a virtual presentation skills course with us.

Or who attend the courses we’ve run in 25 countries across the world.

Many come to change the communication habits of a lifetime.

Some want to boost their own confidence levels.

Others are absolutely determined to land that promotion presentation.

It only takes a month to make a new habit.

Or break an old one.

That’s according to Dr Steven Covey.

He’s the author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

So here are three good habits to develop over the next month.

Number One: Be focused on the outcome you want to achieve

To do that, you have to work out the audience.

Decide what your key messages are.

And lead with what’s in it for them.

Finish the presentation with a strong call to action.

Telling the audience exactly what you want them to do next.

And all of that is done in preparation.

Deciding what you’ll say.

And then what pictures may be needed to illustrate the speech.

Number Two: Make time for proper rehearsal

Now you’ve written your speech, put it into a format that works for you.

You may need to read it word for word.

Or you may find bullet points are the answer.

But set it out the way that best works for you.

Then practise, practise, practise.

How often should you practise?

Until you’re fully conversant with the material.

That’s different from word-perfect.

But being conversant gives you confidence in what you’re saying.

Number Three: Deliver with authority

You’ve written material specifically with the outcome in mind.

You’re fully conversant with the speech through thorough rehearsal.

Now you’re free to concentrate on the delivery of the promotion presentation.

What an audience wants to see is your passion for the subject.

Because if you want them to believe in what you’re saying:

You need to believe in it first.

So emphasise key points.

Slow down for effect.

Take pauses.

Vary the tone of your voice.

And keep your energy high to the last word.

The final word

Make these three things your habits.

Apply them every time you have to stand up and speak to an audience.

Each time you’re pitching for business.

And when you give that big promotion presentation to your boss.

If you make them your habit, you’ll still be presenting well by next year.

Whereas the gym membership may have lapsed.

Bill McFarlan is co-Founder and Executive Chairman at Pink Elephant Communications in Glasgow.

You can read his full profile here.

Photos in Promotion Presentation blog by fauxels / 祝 鹤槐 / Christina Morillo / Moose Photos / mentatdgt from Pexels.
Promotion Presentation blog edited by Colin Stone.

Promotion presentation blog