Do You Rehearse Your Presentations?

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Do You Rehearse Your Presentations?

As any seasoned financial services professional will tell you, your ultimate success is in your preparation. Do you rehearse your presentation in advance, if so, how do you do it?

·       Do you practice flipping the pages as if you were seated in front of your client?

·       Do you use a PowerPoint with a projector and screen?

·       Do you anticipate the objections or questions in advance to be prepared to answer them?

·       Do you build in testimonials and a request for referrals?

As with any thing, keeping it simple and direct is best. The more complicated the more difficult it is for the client to grasp concepts. Obviously, staying within compliance rules helps you guide your prospect to a successful conclusion.

We can all learn what works and what doesn’t from our presentations, keep track of where clients always seem to ask questions to see how you can improve to make it more understandable.

I always liked PowerPoint because it let me control the pace and direction of the interview. I could show flow charts, investment details, projected results in easy to read and digest ways.

To that end I would give the whole presentation without anyone in the room. I found typos, places where I needed simplification, and gained confidence moving from slide to slide after several rehearsals. I knew what slides were coming next and what my transition would look like in advance.

Understanding your client and their needs will help you decide which presentation style will work best for them. Rehearsing will make you look sharp and organized.

If you don’t like speaking in front of groups, join a Toastmasters club near you to learn the basics and advanced techniques for giving a good speech. They are a good resource for beginners or those uncomfortable with public speaking.

This process is full of ways to test your tenacity, resilience, imagination, and purpose with your client and your presentations.

Remember to take a TRIP for a lifetime, not a trip of a lifetime.

In the end, it’s just one man’s opinion…mine.

Keith……