Professionally Speaking...

Cracking the Presentation Glass Ceiling

This article has been selected for DeFinis Communications' “Top Presentation Strategies for Women” Blog Carnival. Enjoy posts from a variety of exceptional bloggers at http://www.definiscommunications.com/blog/blog-carnival-top-presentation-strategies-for-women

In our egalitarian, democratic [small d] world, there should be no difference in presentation strategies for women and men. Sadly, that's not quite the case. The familiar glass ceiling seems to exist in business presentations as well. Women must overcome some unique challenges to maximize their impact as speakers.

Some of these glass ceiling challenges are physical, some are perceptual and some are personal.

THE CHALLENGE: Lack of Confidence
Although men suffer from this as well, low confidence is especially familiar to many women. We don't always believe that we have something of value to say or that we deserve to be taken seriously. Many of us have also been conditioned to be less assertive than our male counterparts. So speaking up and offering opinions and recommendations, whether in meetings or formal presentations, can be difficult and intimidating.
THE STRATEGY: Developing confidence is a long term endeavor, but there are some specific practices that can help raise confidence levels for a presentation. Be extremely well prepared, know your material inside and out and anticipate what questions the audience will have. Then practice your presentation at least 10 times. Simultaneously with your rehearsal, visualize yourself feeling confident and recognizing, by reading the audience's reactions, that you are indeed providing them value.

THE CHALLENGE: Size
Women tend to be smaller than men and this lack of physical stature can make it difficult to create presence when in front of a group. When coupled with a lack of confidence, the result is that a woman not only doesn't look big, she doesn't "feel" big.
THE STRATEGY: Developing confidence in your message and your right to articulate it can help overcome the psychological aspect of smaller size. Specific tips to enhance your presence include: don't speak from behind a podium which blocks out a lot of your body; stand tall with shoulders back; get closer to the audience by standing directly in front of them or moving to the front of the stage.

THE CHALLENGE: Clothing
Although men could show up with a garish tie or a mismatch of patterns, women have so many more opportunities to commit clothing sins. These range from low cut blouses to too much or too little makeup to tight fitting pants, skirts or jackets to noisy jewelry. And, unfair though it is, women tend to be judged far more harshly for wardrobe malfunctions than men.
THE STRATEGY: The first key to dressing appropriately when giving a presentation is to think about what is indeed appropriate for that particular audience. There will be differences in terms of formal vs. casual, but good taste should not be variable. If you don't have a flair for coordinating outfits or choosing a flattering hair style, get some help. Enlist a stylish friend or use the services of an image consultant or personal shopper. Rightly or wrongly, how you look when you stand in front of an audience has a major impact on how you are perceived and the initial assumptions your audience makes about your credibility and professionalism.

THE CHALLENGE: Soft Voice
A soft or high-pitched voice can make it difficult to come across confidently and credibly because we tend to associate a soft voice with timidness or lack of assurance. If a woman suffers, in addition, from low confidence, this can be a deadly combination. A soft voice can also make it difficult for the audience to hear which then makes it challenging for them to stay engaged.
THE STRATEGY: There are many vocal exercises that can strengthen a weak voice and lower pitch. Seek out a professional voice coach for an assessment. Saying tongue twisters and humming are two techniques that are useful for strengthening vocal muscles, no matter what type of voice you have.

Putting some significant cracks in the presentation glass ceiling is very do-able. Focus, commitment and embracing these strategies will make it happen. Then...watch out for falling glass.

Photo Credit:
flickr/StephenMitchell  C.C. 2.0

 

Presentation Tip: First Impressions Matter

According to bestselling author, Malcolm Gladwell, in Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, "Snap judgments are...enormously quick: they rely on the thinnest slices of experience."

In our personal worlds, decisions are made in the blink of an eye: when house hunting, the assessment we make as soon as we walk through the door; the assumptions we make when we see someone dressed radically different from the norm; the impression we have as someone arrives for an interview.

If snap judgments are part of our modus operandi, what implications does this have for presenters?

It means that in the first few moments the audience sees you, you are being judged, assessed, evaluated. Long before you open your mouth. Long before you get to the main message of your presentation.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CREATE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION?

• Be prepared, with AV equipment checked, handouts sorted and slides ready. If you seem disorganized and rattled over logistics, your audience may assume that your presentation will be equally disorganized.

• Look your best. One of the most common snap judgments is making assumptions based on how someone is dressed or groomed. Be sure your appearance is suitable for the particular audience. The mad scientist look may be acceptable at a conference of peers but not work so well in the venture capitalist's boardroom.

• Be friendly. Don't bury you head in your notes for that one last review as the audience is coming into the room. Go greet them at the door, as if you were welcoming them to your home. Interact with individuals prior to commencing your presentation. This can help greatly to create an impression that you're personable and worth listening to.

• Smile. Establish a connection on a human level and let people know you're glad they've come to hear you speak.

You have a fleeting opportunity at the outset of your presentation to shape the lens through which the audience initially sees you...before you speak, before they start to experience your message. Do your utmost to make this "thinnest slice of experience" as positive as you can.

Photo Credit:
flickr/LadyDragonfly  C.C. 2.0

 

Presenting Yourself: The Elevator Speech

I am so fortunate to be able to do what I love (teach presentation skills) in both my professional and volunteer lives.

Recently I taught a class on presenting yourself and crafting your elevator speech to a group of immigrant and refugee women taking an entrepreneurial training  course through Empowered Women International, where I am a Board member. EWI is an amazing and inspiring organization which works with these immigrants to help them channel their artistic and creative abilities into viable, sustainable businesses and in the process, empowers them to be self-sufficient, develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills and integrate into American society. [For more information about EWI's innovative work and how you can help, click here.]

Whether working with immigrant women or professional businesswomen, most are reluctant and shy to talk about themselves or articulate what they do. It's partly the typical fear of speaking in public but equally, it's a lack of knowing what to say and how to say it appropriately. Enter the elevator speech, so named because this speech should be short, focused and clear enough that you can deliver it to someone getting on an elevator on one floor and getting off at the next. Crafting the perfect elevator speech is not an easy task, but it is critical to presenting yourself and your accomplishments in the best light.

THE PERFECT ELEVATOR SPEECH

The elevator speech is your answer to the question "what do you do?" and the objective of your elevator speech is to get the person you're speaking with to ask..."tell me more."

• Have a couple versions of your elevator speech. The basic one should be about 30-45 seconds; then develop a longer 2-3 minute version.

• Grab attention by using metaphors and vivid word pictures in your introductory sentence. ["I save lives" instead of "I'm a doctor"].

• Describe what benefits people get from working with you instead of outlining product/service features.

• Convey passion about what you do.

• Include a brief description of a problem or issue you're solving in your job or for your clients.

• Be easily understandable. Don't use jargon or corporate-speak.

• Appear interested in and focused on the listener.

• Watch your body language. Make eye contact and smile.

• Practice, practice and then practice some more [2-3 times a week] so that you sound completely conversational.

• Be comfortable and familiar enough with your elevator speech that you can give it at a moment's notice, without hesitation, when someone asks, "What do you do?"

• Be memorable!

The sign of a truly well-crafted and delivered elevator speech may just be that your fellow elevator passenger will ride on for a few more floors.

Photo Credit:
flickr/Steve Cherches  C.C. 2.0