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Discussion on: How to present and deliver a strong business document?

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ShantaMilan

Presenting a business document is very important and equally nerve racking. Your success and failure to get your business documents appreciated and approved depends heavily on the way you deliver your pitch. Arthur and Dayle (2006) explains, "Like luncheon and dinner addresses, business presentations should grab attention right from the start. (Bell & Smith, 2014, p. 121)” An ice breaker can be used to ease the environment at the beginning and grab the attention of the crowd before you start your presentation but it should be appropriate. Some steps to follow when presenting and delivering your business documents have been mentioned below

1. Prepare and research: Without understating your audience it will difficult to prepare for the presentation. Thus the first step would be to research your audience, their expectation, background will help you in the preparation and delivery.

2. Practice makes perfect: Practice your pitch as much as possible. The more comfortable you are about you content and pitch the more effective will be your presentation.

3. Tell a great story: Do not read your document but instead inspire and hook the listeners to follow your every word. List of facts are important but your audience will follow the story more than just the facts.

4. Promote your business: It is important to promote your business as this is the main purpose of your business pitch. One important thing to do while promoting your business will be to connect with the audience. Refer to the experience of the audience and connect it with the need for your business.

5. Make your presentation visual: People react more to visual guidance in the presentation. Use graphs, lines, charts, maps, pictures that are relevant, media and even share hand-outs and questioners. Be innovative and move away from boring slides and bullet points.

6. Body Language and listen: Half of your communication will be through body language. Smiling, moving around the floor, eye contact, relaxed body movement and gestures help build trust on you being a better presenter. Also listen to your audience. Their reaction to your presentation will give your insights on delivering your presentation

7. Application: Your presentation should be applicable to the audience. It should be based on their needs. Catering the applicability of your business pitch to the audience will help center your presentation on the audience making them feel more involved.

8. Timing: Do not exceed the 20 minute margin. If you have a long presentation explain to the audience that you will be presenting for 45 minutes with a break in the middle after the first 20 minutes. Adults have an attention span of 20 minutes and only explain about one point in one session. An addition of related points can be added but you will lose the focus of the audience if you add more than one topic.

9. Conclusion: Conclude your pitch with visual resolution, promise, challenge or appeal to emotion. This gives a take away for the audience and will stick to their mind.

No matter what steps you choose it is important that you are comfortable with yourself on stage and do not be afraid of making mistakes. People tend to respond more with presenters making mistakes as this related more to being human. Be innovative and take risks. Your presentation is not about you but about the audience so telling a story for better deliver would be better than formal strict bullet points and facts. As explained by Steve Horton, "While some presentations are more formal, pitches tend to have more flexibility and presenting your pitch as a story can be much more compelling than a list of facts. (Giving that pitch your best shot, 2018)”

Reference
Bell, A. L., & Smith, D. M. (2014). Communication. In A. L. Bell, & D. M. Smith, Management communication (pp. 260-270). Delhi: John Wiley & Sons. Inc.

Giving that pitch your best shot. (2018, Feb 14). Southern HIghland News . Retrieved from proxy.lirn.net/MuseProxyID=mp03/Mu...