A presentation goes far beyond the power point. A company’s most valuable asset is its employee. So, when presenting – keep in mind that you are the product, your pitch is the selling point, and the power-point presentation is merely a crutch. Here are a few tips that will help you crack the tough corporate shell and sell your pitch to the tee.

Start With a Bang

A boring beginning leads to an unmemorable end. Starting your presentation with “Hello my name is…. And I will talk about….” will seldom captivate your audience. Instead, begin your presentation with an engaging story or perhaps even a perplexing question. This will help pique the interest of your listeners and compel them to pay rapt attention. After all, the first impression is the last impression.

Less is More

More often than not, the presentation slides end up being too text heavy, which divides the audience’s attention between reading the text and paying attention to the presenter. In some cases, the pitch may even be verbatim, drawing directly from the slide.  This often makes one seem unsure of their own idea. To avoid this, follow the simple rule of 6×6, which implies that your slide should contain no more than six bullet points, with a maximum of six words each. Let your explanation and persuasion skills do the rest.

Walk and Talk

When presenting, standing in the same spot or behind a podium, provided there is one, can prove to be a hurdle. Used mostly to help conceal nervousness, this frequently used aid ironically does just the opposite. Think of the presentation as a performance, and consequently, use the entire space as your prop. Walking around the room and being conversational goes a long way in capturing the audience’s attention and commanding the room.

#CanRelate

The impact of a presentation is directly proportional to its relatability quotient. In order to get the point across clearly, a relevant example or statistic is your best bet. So in-between the presentation, be sure to make interesting anecdotes or pull up important numbers and figures to maintain the attentiveness of your address.

The monotony, the repetition, the monotony, the repetition…

The golden rule to remember is to reiterate your main point of focus at least three times during the presentation. Preferably at the start, during the middle and while concluding your presentation. After a presentation, the audience is likely to retain information that has been stressed several times. The repetition of your pitch idea will help cut through all the background noise and will redirect the attention of your listeners to the matter at hand throughout the presentation. This will result in an effective and impactful delivery – leaving a lasting impression.