If you were to ask an average employee how much he/she looks forward to regular business meetings, chances are most of them would simply roll their eyes. Should you wish for your workers to have a different response, try to make business presentations more interesting and engaging. Basically, time is a great issue, and if a meeting isn’t perceived as useful, employees regret spending a part of their precious time listening for some dull presentation. Luckily for you, we have prepared several techniques that guarantee success, improve your rapport with colleagues, and ultimately create greater revenue.
The first impression is everything
Your audience has to be aware they have arrived at an important business meeting the moment you begin your talk. Everybody should focus immediately and stop thinking about when it is going to end and what they’ll going to do later. You can do this in two ways. Try to use some humor, a rhetorical question, or tell them some good news about the business. On the other hand, you can also begin with a very serious attitude to get everybody on their toes.
Tell a story
Ultimately, your presentation should be telling an interesting story.
Think of yourself as a storyteller who has to enchant his/her audience, because that’s exactly what you are doing. Everybody has had enough charts and PowerPoint presentations. The key (as always) is in presenting the material in the right way. Essentially, storytelling is all about persuasion, isn’t it? Use examples from your life, or from someone you know. If you deem yourself not good enough to deliver a compelling story, you should definitely check some tips from essaywritingsolutions.co.uk. These pieces of advice will come in really handy because you’ll be delivering in a natural and interesting way.
Listen to the others
Sure, you are to present the material in an engaging way, but in order for a business meeting to reach its purpose, you have to be a great listener as well. People love the sound of their voice too much, which can too often lead to a one-man show. Let your listeners have their say, too. After all, the purpose of a presentation isn’t presenting an idea, but its development. Discuss the matter in details and you’ll be surprised by the solutions your team has come up with.
Extra tip: pause for 5-7 seconds for the material to be fully taken in before asking a question.
Plan a break
Attention span is limited at longer meetings, so don’t turn them into a torture. Provide some refreshments for your workers. Actually, you can provide different food or drinks every time. That will certainly put a smile on their faces and make them look forward to the meeting.
A reason to celebrate
Make sure to include this into the meeting as one more reason for regular attendance and keeping a positive atmosphere. It may be someone’s birthday, but more importantly, you should celebrate your employees, i.e. give them enough praise and support. Employees who feel valued are more reluctant to leave their positions, even if they are offered a higher salary. Not everything is about money. It’s recognition and respect that people desire rather than a few thousands more.
Finishing up
A proper ending is just as significant as the rest of the meeting, or even more. You should always try to end a meeting on a positive note and set clear goals for the next time. Indeed, sometimes the situation may not look so great, but you are not to dwell on that and lament, but rather be proactive and encourage your team to roll up their sleeves and fix it.
Eventually, if you play your cards right, your business presentation will transform from an event that is gladly avoided into one which is expected impatiently. Use the tips from above, and you’ll notice the change from the very first meeting.
