As one of the judging panel for the up and coming Business Champion Awards I wanted to offer my professional advice to finalists to let them hone their presentation skills to share the best of your business to the judges.
The Business Champion Awards are designed to celebrate the best of British business nationwide, but my advice is valid for any business making presentations.
Are you ready to talk about your business decisions, or does the prospect of presenting make you feel nervous?
You’re not alone in feeling this way and as much as our team of organisers can say: ‘it’s meant to be a positive experience to reward the champions of business’ it’s still always a bit nerve wracking on the day. Have no fear, because there are ways around this though …
Great presentations are made from process, preparation and practice
There is a quote attributed to Dale Carnegie that states,
‘There are always three speeches for everyone you gave; the one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.’
The inference being that speeches and presentations don’t always go to plan, and most of us have sat and squirmed, or maybe even enjoyed a moment of schadenfreude, as a speech or presentation has collapsed into mayhem before our very eyes.
There are people who will tell you that delivering a speech or a presentation is an art, that some people have it, whatever ‘it’ is, and some people don’t. But, solely relying on “it” can leave even the most accomplished public speakers scrambling for the right bit of paper, heading off topic and seeing their presentation rapidly unravel.
Like most things in life, the best way to avoid a presentation disaster is to employ a process, prepare properly and practice. Obviously, you must understand the subject matter you’re presenting, but without process, preparation and practice you dramatically increase your chances of acting out Carnegie’s quote.
So here are a few tips that might help you actually give the presentation you planned.
1. Ask yourself why you are giving the presentation?
What Do You Want Your Crowd to Do After They’re Done Listening?
Before you spill your ideas, ask yourself the one big question: “What is the action you want folks to take?” It’s the secret sauce that shapes every word, slide, and smile you’ll throw into the mix.
1⃣ The 3 Main Missions & the Styles That Fit
- Get Them Fired Up! – Want a call‑to‑action that sends chills down arms? Then let your voice carry the fire: passionate, motivational, and absolutely upbeat. Think elevator music turned to a full‑blown rock concert.
- Teach Them Something – If your goal is education, buck up for charts, stats, and the occasional “mind‑blowing” factoid. Sprinkle data like confetti so your audience can both laugh and learn.
- Secure the Deal – Need proposals or contracts approved? Keep your focus razor‑sharp. Lay out the next steps like a well‑ordered treasure map: short, clear, and actionable.
2⃣ The “Why” Behind the “What”
Ask yourself why you’re presenting, what you’re presenting, and how you present it. If you skip the “why,” the “what” and “how” will wander like a lost tourist in a city without a map. Stay synced, stay engaged, and your message will echo loud and clear.
Quick Takeaway
Know your end goal, match the style to it, and always anchor your narrative with the original “why.” That’s the recipe for a presentation that sings – and gets people moving.
2. Understand your audience
The smaller the group you are presenting to the easier it is to understand your audience, the larger the more difficult. That said, no matter how large your audience there are questions you can ask yourself that will help align your content to what they are hoping to hear.
A few questions to ask yourself about your audience include,
Who are they? What do they already know about the subject matter you are presenting and how does this inform your content and delivery style?
What are they expecting you to present? Have you been explicit enough in communicating the purpose of your presentation to them?
Out of all the different aspects of your subject matter what do they care about most? People engage when they hear things they care about and disengage when they don’t.
It may seem blindingly obvious but working out what your audience is interested in is key to the success of your presentation.
3. Have a structure and stick to it
Why the Classic Three‑Act Structure Rocks Presentations
Meet the Star Players
- Opening – The “hook” that sets the stage. Just like a good joke, it grabs attention before we get into the nitty‑gritty.
- Body – The meat of the talk. Where we dive into the details, share insights, and keep the audience on their toes.
- Conclusion – The wrap‑up that ties everything together, leaving your listeners with a clear take‑away.
Why This Works 99% of the Time
Think of it like ordering a pizza. The opening is the crust—broad and inviting. The body is the toppings—full of flavor and content. And the conclusion? The extra cheese that seals it with a satisfying bite.
The Simple, Yet Powerful Recipe
- Tell them what you’re going to tell them: Give a sneak peek. “Today, we’ll explore why coffee is hotter than your ex’s last love‑affair.”
- Tell them: Deliver the juicy details. “I’ll show you the science behind caffeine and the surprising statistics.”
- Tell them what you told them: Summarise. “Remember: caffeine hits faster than a reality‑tv cliffhanger.”
And just like that, you’ve turned your presentation into a memorable, engaging experience that keeps everyone glued to the screen—no AI‑generated fluff required.
4. Tell them what you’re going to tell them
Start Your Presentation Like a Boss
Picture this: you walk up to the podium, smile, and feel the room instantly settle. That’s what a killer opening does.
Here’s the Quick‑Stitch Blueprint:
- Say hello – “Good morning/afternoon, I’m Your Name” keeps it friendly and personal.
- State your role – let the audience know why you are the voice to listen to. “I’m the go‑to guy/girl for X” or “I’m the life coach for this project” works well.
- Declare the purpose – tell them why you’re here. “I’m here to help you uncover challenges, solve them, and celebrate wins.” That’s the ‘why’ that hooks.
- Preview the agenda – drop a concise, snappy outline of 4–5 key topics. Even a simple list like: Problem, Plan, Demo, Impact, Call‑to‑Action.
- Set the Q&A tone – gently lead the conversation by saying something like, “Feel free to question me after the talk—questions are golden.”
- Invite quick questions – give the crowd a chance to ask one tiny question right till the end—“Is anyone curious about the first point?”
When you nail this intro—smooth delivery, no notes—your audience will instantly feel you’re a confident, relatable speaker. That’s the first win of your entire presentation.
5. Tell them
You can open the main body of your presentation by either:
Telling a joke – be careful, it’s a presentation not a stand-up comedy routine
Telling a story, one that is relevant to your content
Making a statement to capture the audience’s interest.
The objective is to grab your audience’s attention by letting them know why they should listen to you.
The body of your presentation needs to contain the (no more than 4 or 5) key points that you want to focus on. You should present these in a logical order, so that your audience can follow you and your presentation easily.
Trying to present too many points runs the risk of losing or boring your audience.
If you intend to present facts and figures to support the main points of your presentation, make sure you use reliable sources that you can quote and refer to.
6. Tell them what you told them
The words you use to close your presentation should be the ones you want your audience to remember most. They should be succinct and focused on summarising the purpose of your presentation and the key 4 or 5 points you wanted to deliver.
The structure of this segment of your presentation is,
Restate your objectives
Summarise your key points
State your call to action.
With the “tell ’em” approach, your conclusion summarises the main points of your presentation. If you want people to take an action, change their view of, or how they feel about something, be specific about exactly what you want them to do.
7. Practice makes perfect
Take the Stage Without Freaking Out
Remember the old saying: practice makes perfect. If you jump straight into your first live presentation—no rehearsals, no practice, no preview—you’re basically setting the stage for a miss.
Why rattle it off for 10 times?
- Practice, practice, practice: Run through your talk at least ten times. Each run is a rehearsal gold mine.
- Get a willing audience: Your partner, your buddy, even your plant can be the honest critic. They’ll point out what’s shiny and what’s stuck.
- Time check: Test whether the talk fits the allotted window. You’re not trying to blister the entire crowd, just getting it right.
- Feel the nerves, embrace them: The buzz of anticipation is your adrenaline—use it, don’t fight it.
How the geniuses of the podium nail it
Top presenters can turn a wobbly take into something that feels effortless. They have a process, they prepare, and they practice as their secret sauce.
Carnegie once said, “You practice one day, you deliver that same day, and you wish you could give it again.” The real truth is the three – practice, deliver, repeat – are all stones in the same pebble. It’s all the same stone, just polished over time.
So, drop the “first‑and-only” drama, roll out the practice circuit, gather candid feedback, and watch your confidence grow. Your audience will thank you—maybe even give you a standing ovation. Cheers!