Preparing for important pitches and meetings can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. These moments in the spotlight at work are often a great opportunity to showcase your talents and strengths, yet they can also be sources of anxiety (which is no one’s friend when public speaking is involved). Whether you’re pitching a new project, presenting to potential clients, or just updating your team, there are things you can do to minimize that anxiety.
Preparing for important meetings and pitches- Photo Credit- Jason Goodman-Unsplash
First, know that you are not alone. In fact, fear of public speaking is one of the most commonly reported social fears. The good news is that there are ways to reduce that anxiety by making sure you are thoroughly prepared and ready to address your audience. Here are some tips preparing for important pitches and meetings without losing your mind in the process.
Know Who You’re Talking To
Knowing your audience is key when preparing for important pitches and meetings because it will determine the tone and what you should be focusing on. If you are pitching to a new client, you may want to show them you know what their company or brand is all about. On the other hand, if you’re presenting results to your supervisors, you should focus on the data and specifics of your results. Knowing your audience will also be helpful when it comes to anticipating potential questions, appealing to their interests, and building a connection.
What do you want? What are you trying to sell or get from this meeting? Do you want a bigger budget? More freedom? Are you advertising yourself as the best option for a new project? Clear objectives are as important as knowing what you are talking about during a meeting and defining them before you go in there will help you stay focused on your goal.
Structure Your Presentation
Winging it really isn’t an option, no matter how charismatic you are or how comfortable you are as a speaker. Creating a well-structured plan for you to follow will make it easier to hit all the points you intended, helping you keep your audience engaged while delivering your message. You should also include data, case studies, testimonials, and other kinds of evidence that will make your pitch more attractive. A more structured presentation also makes it easier for everyone to follow and understand your objectives.
Preparing for important meetings and pitches- Photo Credit- Ospan Ali -Unsplash
Practice Your Pitch
Practicing for your pitch or meeting is useful even if you’re not feeling nervous about it. You don’t have to memorize everything, but practicing in front of a mirror or with some of your colleagues can make it easier for you to know what works and what doesn’t in your pitch. It will also help you identify what your strengths and weaknesses are and enable you to make the necessary adjustments before you go into your big meeting. If you are practicing in front of colleagues encourage them to ask questions. This will help you prepare for any doubts that may arise in the real thing.
Fashion can be used as a tool to understand various psychological concepts such as identity, self-esteem, and social status. What we wear influences not only how others see us, but how we see and feel about ourselves. That big pitch or meeting is the perfect excuse to wear that jacket or blouse or suit that makes you feel fantastic, because feeling good often makes us feel more confident too. Just don’t forget comfort, worrying about your shoes or being too hot or cold can distract you from your objectives.
Materials and Visuals
Visuals can help keep everyone engaged, especially when you are dealing with a lot of data. Make sure that you are prepared to send all that information or even create a virtual or printed out version with the most important data points. This will help people follow along and let them go back to the information later if they need to. Emailing them later with a summary of your presentation can be a perfect excuse to follow up with colleagues.
It can seem overwhelming, but preparing for important pitches and meetings doesn’t have to be such a daunting experience. In fact, seeing your own progress and ideas while you prepare can help you feel more confident about the whole process.
Mexico City-born freelance writer, translator, ghostwriter, editor and Red Shoe Movement contributor with a love of live music and graphic novels. Has collaborated with Yahoo!, Blouin Artinfo, Yahoo! en Español, Savvy Heels, Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) among others.
