Executive level presentations can threaten the equilibrium of even the most skilled business presenters. A planned delivery can be tossed upside down as unexpected interruptions, questions and dialogue usurp the allotted time.
This series of tips will help you make a few tweaks to your presentation practices so you can maintain your balance successfully in the C-Suite.
TIP #8: DON'T USE ALL YOUR TIME
A good rule of thumb is that your presentation should take only 70% of the time you've been given. This adequately allows for interruptions, discussion, Q&A and unexpected delays.
For example, if you have a one-hour time slot, design your presentation to take 40 minutes. That extra 20 minutes might seem like a lot of time left over, but think about the number of presentations you've seen that run out of time because of energetic dialogue. It's a given that executives will not sit mutely in their seats but will participate with questions and comments.
And besides, if you do happen to finish a bit before the end of your time slot, what executive was ever upset to have a presentation end a few minutes early?
C-Level Presentation Tip #7: Anticipate Tough Questions
C-Level Presentation Tip #6: Beware of Too Many Slides
C-Level Presentation Tip #5: Analyze Your Audience
C-Level Presentation Tip #4: Beware of Too Much Detail
C-Level Presentation Tip #3: Expect and Be Happy About Interruptions
C-Level Presentation Tip #2: Link to Business Issues
C-Level Presentation Tip #1: Start with Conclusions
Photo Credit:
flickr/Airbourne Supremacy C.C. 2.0
Hi Valary,
Thanks for your comment. You are SO right! The key is providing value -- from the executives' perspective -- and then, time won't be an issue.
Best,
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy Reiffenstein | September 26, 2013 at 01:52 PM
Great tip. One of the best ways to get more time out of executives is to respect their sense of time. Always go as short as possible and let them ask you to stay or come back for more. If you are giving them something they find valuable they will make more time for you.
Posted by: Valarywithawhy | September 26, 2013 at 10:07 AM