INTRODUCTION When Ahmed L., a senior
marketing manager in However, he forgot two important things, and they really cost him a lot. His presentation was failure, and he lost the customer’s business. Ahmed could have avoided this disaster and done very
well, if he only remembered to Be Aware of two important elements: 1) His
own physical health BEFORE the presentation 2) The
essential supplies he required DURING the presentation |
1.
PHYSICAL HEALTH. Most managers, executives and supervisors who are responsible for giving presentations should consider their physical health before the presentation time. For example, Ahmed did not know that it is best to avoid sugary or carbohydrate-loaded food such as macaroni and rice at least one hour before speaking. These food will cause laziness and tiredness during your presentation. And, sure enough, it did for him. With the rice, Ahmed
tried some new spicy food from He did know, however, that other foods such as leban, ice cream, cheese, and chocolate taken just before a presentation will cause an uncomfortable build-up of mucous in the mouth and throat. So, he avoided them and didn’t have to clear his throat while he was talking. Ahmed also knew that, sometimes, because of nervousness, any hot beverage drunk too quickly could cause big trouble by burning the tongue or lips. Unfortunately, Ahmed did
not know that he should get rest the night before. He traveled from In Most importantly, do not
try to fight a fit of nervousness just before the presentation by deep
breathing or exercising. You may hurt
yourself. In fact, deep breathing too much could cause
you to become dizzy. Research
shows that more than 5 times deep breathing could do damage when you are nervous. Instead use “Square Breathing,” Emphasis of voice and
gestures, “Cross-Crawl” exercising, but mostly, PRACTICING helps. |
2. ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL SUPPLIES
To continue this sad story, several embarrassing problem confronted Ahmed when he started his presentation. He realized that he had forgotten his handouts on the dining table when he was looking at them during lunch. He did not have time to return there, because he was now standing in front of his customers. So, he though he would improvise and just use his Power point slides to remember what he needed to say. He needed to use an electrical connection for his laptop because last night he used up the battery surfing the Internet with his friends. He put his laptop PC on the table in the hotel conference room. But, the cord did not reach the outlet in the wall, and Ahmed did not have an extension cord. He did have backup plastic transparencies, but there was no Overhead Projector in the room either. Then, he decided to write an outline of his main points on the chalkboard that was in the conference room, but there was no chalk or eraser. This was surely a disaster, and he was alone in front of the room. Ahmed could have avoided most of these problems, if he had followed the first rule of professional presenters – at least one hour before your schedule time of speaking, check the room you will be in. Beyond that rule, he should have thought to take along the following survival tools that everyone who wants to be a professional presenter must have: |
EIGHT SURVIVAL TOOLS
1. A long, excellent
quality electrical extension cord with an adaptor for different kinds of
plugs. Also, a small-size 110/220
converter (or ask the hotel or conference room to provide one). 2. A roll of strong
electrical tape (or duct tape) that you secure cords and wires with to the
floor, so you do not trip over them. 3. An extra set of
note cards that you keep in your pocket. 4. Your own sticks of
chalk and a small cloth to use as an eraser. 5. A miniature, travel
office supplies kit which contains scissors, glue, stapler, clear tape, paper
clips and pencil with eraser. 6. Colored
transparencies markers. 7. An extra set of
prepared transparencies (just in case the PC does not work) and some blank
ones that you can write on (just in case). 8. Your entire
presentation in printed form (at least 2 copies – one for you and one for the
KDM) in case the electricity or something else prevents you from using the
equipment. |
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In conclusion, these items can easily be carried in
your briefcase and can do more than just change disaster into survival. They can mean the success of your
presentation and maybe even your business. |
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