Taking a Presentation on the Road

Sooner or later small businesses are going to need to hit the road. They may need to meet with potential investors or give a proposal to a prospective client. Maybe they have been lucky enough to be invited to speak at a seminar, workshop, or trade convention. Whether it involves driving across town or flying across the country, the first outside presentation can be nerve racking. However, there are a few things to do to make the process smoother.

The first step is to sit down and plan the presentation. This isn’t just a matter of outlining the actual type and content for the presentation. This stage involves listing all the personnel, equipment, and arrangements necessary for a successful pitch or speech. Listing all the individual actions — from writing the presentation and proofreading the slides to securing necessary transportation and an lcd projector rental on the other end — will go a long way to relieving the stress associated with this process. Yes, there will still be a long list of things to do, but knowing that nothing is being overlooked or forgotten is a huge stress reliever.

Then take that list and create an action plan , complete with deadlines, and then assign each task to the appropriate staff members. Some small businesses are single-person operations, which makes the assignment process even easier. However, they should still ask a colleague or trusted friend to look over the final presentation for typos, upside down graphs, and other errors. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to do at least one practice run with an audience before heading out the door.

Though they seem intuitive, many people forget to take these important steps and end up much more anxious and stressed than necessary. The more relaxed and confident the presenter, the more successful the presentation will be.