Communicating Effectively: Pitch Perfect
I am delighted to have attended a practice pitch party for startups prepping for investor pitches… and I had a lot of coaching advice for the presenters.
I share a few quick tips here:
BEFORE YOU PRESENT
1. Begin with the end in mind: What do you want to accomplish from having been in the room? Use storytelling as you prepare.
2. Keep it simple by concentrating on your core message: What are the key points that you want your audience to take forward from your talk? What do they need to know? (which is different from what you want to talk about)
3. Anticipate questions: What are the questions your audience is most likely to ask? Are you prepared to answer them? (Some answers should be in the presentation, others can be “in your pocket” ready to go if asked)
DURING THE PRESENTATION
1. Set the stage at the start: How can you create a strong start to grab your audience’s attention and keep it? (are you interesting? excited? passionate?)
2. Use your voice: How loudly are you speaking? How fast? Are you focused on taking care of your audience? Are you varying tone and pitch of your voice appropriately? (be responsible for being heard, articulate, and clear)
3. Use your body: How will you control the room? Where are you standing? (is there anything in between you and your audience?) How commanding are you? Are you pacing? If so, do it SLOWLY. Is your body language comfortable and open? (if it is stiff and closed – BREATHE DEEPLY and let the oxygen deliver relaxation to your muscles)
4. Include everyone in the room: How are you directing your attention around the room? Are you engaging everyone? (use eye contact and body movement to do this)
I do provide small group and one-on-one communication coaching that contributes to sharpening your content and empowering your delivery. Contact me to create what will work for you and your team!
Also, you can learn at your own pace with my digital course offering, available on Udemy.