{"id":3765,"date":"2022-11-30T15:08:16","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T14:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/?p=3765"},"modified":"2024-11-06T18:04:15","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T17:04:15","slug":"four-pillars-of-exceptional-business-presentations-to-make-you-unforgettable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/30\/four-pillars-of-exceptional-business-presentations-to-make-you-unforgettable\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Pillars Of Exceptional Business Presentations To Make You Unforgettable"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I was looking forward to the industry report presentations of final-year MBA students from a globally ranked business school In Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The industry reports were a critical component of the business school’s annual Career Day<\/em> event for the MBAs. It was a full day of networking, interviewing, and other activities where 30 top companies set up booths and interacted with MBA students. The business school meticulously planned the event to showcase the academic prowess, communication skills, and employability of its students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the final-year MBAs who were to graduate in a few months, it was an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate their skills and experiences to secure lucrative job offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for the first-year MBAs, it was a priceless networking event that provided valuable internship opportunities with reputable companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now the final-year MBAs had researched for months to prepare their industry reports. As has been the custom at the business school for years, the students were divided into groups to work on reports in five segments. They tackled ICT\/telecoms, oil and gas, FMCG (fast-growing consumer goods), banking, and an overview of the major industries in the country. Moreover, the industry reports carried 20% of the weight in the \u2018Strategy in Emerging Markets\u2019 module. Therefore, the MBA students could appreciate the significance of the reports and the industry report presentations that followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I became involved in the process a few weeks before the event. I was invited to coach the MBAs on their delivery and offer recommendations to improve their presentations.  During the rehearsals, I was joined by an esteemed faculty member of the prestigious business school. His focus was on the thoroughness of the MBAs’ content, the accuracy of the data, and the relevance of the industry reports to companies and other stakeholders who would comprise the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was mentally exhausted after two gruelling coaching sessions that each spanned over three hours across two weeks\u2014one where the MBAs presented live on stage, and the other where they presented virtually. Yet, the students still needed to implement content revisions and practice thoroughly to ensure a flawless delivery on the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The audience sat in the business school\u2019s impressive mini-auditorium on Career Day<\/em>. Excluding the central screen, other screens were positioned around the sides of the room. Table mics were set up on every row so the audience could ask questions wherever they sat. In the audience were company executives, recruiters from the 30 participating companies, and others. The presentations were to be streamed live. It was a setup that would have intimidated even experienced speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, there I was seated in the audience, anxious and expectant. I hoped the final-year MBAs remembered suggestions made during the rehearsals and what I had harped on nonverbal and verbal cues, flow, and delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The presentations were successful, and I beamed with pride akin to a mother seeing her children receive well-deserved honours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event reinforced one fact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irrespective of the experience of the speaker, the content, and the occasion, there are four pillars of exceptional business presentations that are non-negotiable. Two are based on the content, and two are on the delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Content<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1) Relevant, sticky content<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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During the rehearsals, the faculty member and I challenged the MBAs to ensure their materials were relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We asked them questions. We wanted them to ponder on their information, revise sections, or remove data that didn’t address the what’s-in-it-for-me angle or the so-what question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relevance<\/a> is a powerful element in persuasion. And at the heart of a relevant presentation is a drive to satisfy the needs of the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re a young professional, an executive with decades of experience under your belt, or somewhere in between, the first rule of effective speaking applies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider your audience, then prioritise their<\/em> needs in your content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the MBAs’ presentations provided insights that companies operating in those industries might not be aware of. But more importantly, the presenters made recommendations on what companies should do to ensure their businesses thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might not be a final-year MBA student. But whatever your role or industry, always remember that the purpose of your presentation\/speech\/address falls into at least one of three categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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