Seven Tips for Presenting to Executives

Seven Tips for Successfully Presenting toExecutives : 

Seven Tips for Successfully Presenting toExecutives Planning your big meeting? Just think of it as if you were planning a trip. Louise Watts Manager, Executive Communications Worldwide Partner Organization

Begin with the End in Mind : 

Begin with the End in Mind Don’t be a nervous driver. They’ll assume you can drive unless you signal that you can’t. Know exactly where you are going. Can you get there faster with a full car? (Should you invite Finance? HR? Operations? Cisco Services? Inside Sales?) Tip #1 Explain why they are on this trip.

Have a Roadmap : 

Have a Roadmap Introduce yourself. Make sure your destination is going in their direction. Describe what success will look like when you reach it. Tip #2 The “so-what “ they want to hear is almost always money.Rise above the trees and look at the lovely view!

Has She Been Down This Road? : 

Has She Been Down This Road? Customize the route to what they already know about the destination. Step back. Have new places of interest nearby popped up? From their vantage point, recent announcements, launches, Council actions, corporate communications may affect your trip. Tip #3 Before you start the engine, maybe check their prior knowledge so you can gauge how fast to go.

Adapt to Detours : 

Adapt to Detours Prepare for potholes. Will you delay if the executive is late? Let the rest of your passengers know the plan. Noise in the back seat. On topic? Let them finish. Off topic? Take back the wheel. Questions? See “side conversations”. Anticipate and use back up slides using the go to button. Tip #4 Remember; this meeting is probably not the most important of their day.

Don’t Get Them Lost : 

Don’t Get Them Lost No jargon One message per slide Simple visuals Minimum 14 pt font Stay on topic Tip #5 Don’t make charts a quiz. Highlight the main point.

Let Him Drive A Bit : 

Let Him Drive A Bit Stop when they need to. Approximate is ok – inaccurate is not. Watch your speed. Save min. 25% for questions Try to arrive early and then let them go. Tip #6 Try not to make them hold it . Use the magic “go to” button, bottom left corner when presenting.

Know When You’ve Arrived : 

Know When You’ve Arrived Tell them what to expect as a result of the meeting. You might want to ask each passenger what they thought. Take notes! Come to a complete stop. Have a close. Tip #7 Quick thanks and acknowledgements are almost always appropriate as part of your close. Remember your boss.

Slide 9: 

Bonus Tip: Use more slides, but keep them very visual to keep an line audience engaged