Methods of Presenting Ideas at a Corporate Event

Wouldn't it be wonderful to develop your own style for presentations? You can and you should. We may not all be Steve Jobs when it comes to charming a crowd but we can learn some lessons from him.

The magic of Jobs was that he created a simple style of presentation that perfectly suited him and his product. He simply took the stage and presented his product. He didn't even need to dress up!

Here's what I take from his lesson and from sitting in way too many halls listening to dull presentations:

1. Know yourself. Think about your style and your comfort level. When are you at your best? Ask those who have to listen to you when they find you the most compelling.


2. Know your company. Think about the basic mission of your organization. Jobs created a company that beautifully married the best in design with the best in technology. His "stage set" and his presence personified that.


3. Know your product or service. Be proud of what you do/make and be prepared to share that with the audience.


4. Use props only when they add. Jobs unveiled an amazing technological advance. OK, we can't all do that. But don't fall back on PowerPoint. Explore other ways of showing and sharing.


5. If you do project your presentation, make it good and professional. Where the idea that ordinary folks could create great PowerPoint presentations came from, I don't know. They can't. Treat a presentation like any other professional marketing piece. Have it designed.


6. Practice. Practice again. Get really good and speaking and telling your story first. Then practice with your props. Get help if you need it.

Now let's explore some good presentation ideas.

Start strong. Enter ready to grab attention. Carry something (relevant). Give a rousing greeting. Say something funny (only if you can pull it off). Barbara Corcoran, the New York real estate giant, started a talk by revealing something quite personal about how she got started in business. She had our attention!

Look good. Wear what you are comfortable wearing. Don't change your style or wear new clothes. If you need reading glasses, have them at the ready.

Get comfortable. Stand still, move around, perch on a stool. It doesn't matter as long as you are comfortable doing it. You'll find out in your practice which works best for you.

Don't bore them. Deliver your message and leave it at that. Better that they'd love to know more than that they heard too much.

Wow them. Remember Steve Jobs, he only took to the stage when he had something great to say and show. Do the same.