Have you ever been invited to give a short presentation to your Networking Group? I think if you are professionally networking we all have either given a ten or twenty minute presentation or are soon going to!
If you already have, how did you present? Standing in front? Using power point? Using a company video? Off the cuff? Notes? Lectern?
And when you were finished I am sure you got many accolades or even asked, 'how did I do?' and my next question is.. what did you think they were going to say to you after you spoke? Did you think someone might say, you sucked! or maybe much kinder, I found it kind of boring. But because we are not truly wanting honest feedback we allow the few that will comment to us to say, nice presentation! Why thank ya, thank ya very much, as Elvis would have said.
Now let's get to the honest part.... unless you are truly a professional speaker that ten minute presentation was probably just ok. Because here is the real honest question I have for you.
What did you do to REACH your audience? Think about it. Answer honestly. And, here is what you are probably asking right now... Steve, what do you mean by reach my audience?
Do you understand that as a professional speaker I have been trained to understand that I can lose an audience in as little as 15 seconds? That I know I will lose them at least within one minute and that if I talk for ten minutes there had better be ten positive modifiers that I require from my audience to indicate that most of them are still with me?
If I do a 45 minute keynote address, at least every minute I had better hear a laugh, require a nod of agreement or hear a disgruntled sigh of disatisfaction! Once every minute! Now think back, how many of those did you hear every minute you spoke?
So from now on, here is one tip that will make you stand out from everyone else presenting. Here is one tip that will make you memorable. Here is one tip that will gain you clients, loyalty and keep you top-of-mind for your fellow networkers.
Don't tell them about your company ever again.
I know! What? But that's why they asked me to speak! Nooooooo! It isn't. You are part of a networking group and EVERYONE is invited to speak because that is what is expected of everyone. That we all will gain the chance to tell about our business to win friends and influence people, to gain clients and explain our business so all of my fellow networkers can refer business to me! No. No no no!
This is your chance to do all of that but NOT by telling about you, your company or your business.
You should do it by offering some type of learning experience. Do it by offering knowledge. Do it by asking questions and giving answers that your audience wants and needs to hear.
If you are selling insurance, I don't want you to tell me all about your company, how many millions in assets you have? I don't care how many states you sell in! I don't care!
What I do care about is, what and how and when can you, yes you! do for me. Ask me personal questions as a group. I know most of you have insurance for your (home). How many of you know, really know how much of your home is covered? Is it insured so that if there is a fire you can rebuild? Can you live in a hotel until you can move back in? What kind of hotel? A fleabagger? One room for a family of 8? How about contents? Who can tell me the exact amount of your coverage for XYZ.
You see what I mean? Get people THINKING! Make them ask themselves the tough questions.
If you are selling network marketing- make up - health care- coffee - whatever... do I care if you are now doing business in Canada? Or Egypt? All I want to know is, what can you do for me NOW?
Are you a banker? Give me a couple great stories about Bob and his wife Alyce! Tell me how you saved Edie $300 a month because she had been dealing with the wrong institution and that you can probably help me if you ask the right questions for your audience to answer!
Did you know that if you get arrested for XYZ that I (if I were an attorney) can help you out by doing such and such?
Do you know someone who is...
Do you have ....
Is this you or someone you know that ....
If you have to give a presentation, wouldn't you like to know that it was the best damn speech of your life? That you not only reached everyone in the room but everyone WILL REMEMBER who you are, what you said and you will be top of mind whenever they meet someone they could refer you to?
In your next business presentation, know your purpose. In your next Professional Networking presentation ask questions, give answers, expect questions from your audience and know how to SHUT THEM UP so they don't take up all of your time! Know how to ask the right questions at the right time so everyone wants to hear the end of your stories, so everyone is listening and involved, so everyone will say, 'wow, I had no idea you could do XYZ'.
So the TIP was... in case you missed it because you were thinking of all of the questions you need to ask next time you speak is... Ask questions that make your audience think.
I am Steve Sapato your Professional Networking guru and I help you become more productive by training you how to set up a contact so they WANT and invite your phone call to set up that very important consultation about how you can make a difference in their business.
www.mentalprosperityblog.com 563-370-4938
Call for your trainings today. And yes, I do train larger groups on Professional Networking and Management skills so they can all set new records.
