Presentations

For many years, I was terrified about making a presentation. Sure, I had been on the courses but that only told me how to do it; it did not cure the fear. On the rare occasions, I did one, people said I was OK but I never felt so. Every time, I was shaking.

Then in the late 80’s, I got a job where I knew that presentations would crop up frequently. Sharp intake of breath, swallow and thinking of how to go forward. I suppose it’s like facing any irrational phobia really – only way to cure it is to face up to it. So I completely reversed my historic attitude and sought every opportunity to speak to an audience.

I remembered the lessons I had been taught, chief amongst them being preparation and practice. It does not matter how long it is, you must rehearse it and rehearse it to the point that you know what you are going to say without reference to your slides. I used to practise mine at my office window chatting to the green woodpecker. He never complained, indeed he seemed almost interested but I doubted him.

In my life, I have coined two phrases with regard to making a good presentation:

‘Never let the facts get in the way of a good presentation.’

‘Bugger the truth, I want impact.’

And that’s it really. A presentation is a selling job be it ideas or products, concepts or dreams.

But never forget, you have to give people dreams.