Presentation Skills Training Tips

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The following article was contributed by Julia O'Connor - Speaker, Author, Consultant

What Do You Do With Your Hands - Two Tips for Feeling More Comfortable at Events

Presentation Skills - Whenever you find yourself giving an informal presentation, say at a networking event or maybe a trade show, and you see all these folks - some fidgeting with change in their pockets, perhaps standing with hands over crotch (classic fig-leaf position), leaning on a counter, or fiddling with a pen, or passing a give-away from hand-to-hand.

Presentation Skills

Whenever you find yourself giving an informal presentation, say at a networking event or maybe a trade show, and you see all these folks - some fidgeting with change in their pockets, perhaps standing with hands over crotch (classic fig-leaf position), leaning on a counter, or fiddling with a pen, or passing a give-away from hand-to-hand.

Ask yourself. Do you sometimes do the same thing?

If you do then what does that say to the people in your audience or those walking down the aisle?

It says 'I'm uncomfortable and don't know what to do with my hands'.

So what to do with those hands?

Julia O'Connor, president of Trade Show Training, inc, has two simple suggestions.

"My favourite trick is to take a survey with paper and clipboard", she said. "because trade shows are always a good time to gather information from folks who stop by your stand."

Develop a little survey with no more than five questions. Make it easy, make it quick, use multiple-choice. You will get better results if you don't ask for personal information but ask how participants would like you to follow-up.

What do you ask? What do you need to know about possible clients and your business for the next six months or so? What do they know about your company? About your products?

What do they need for the sales process, service, financing, repair, technology, innovation, trade-in, etc? Also - ask in general how do they see industry trends, outside forces affecting the economy, politics at all levels, taxes, immigration, etc.

It would be easy to put this in an electronic format, but I use old-fashioned paper and a clipboard.

O'Connor said, "I've used up to 10 clipboards per 10x10 space because people are curious and will gather around your space, discuss the questions and ask questions. The big bonus is you can hold a clipboard in your hands and look anticipatory."

Another bonus is that by glancing at the survey, you can take one of the answers or concerns from the individual's survey to start a targeted conversation.

The third bonus is that you can take the information from the surveys, distill it, and use it as a press release. Here's an example. "XYZ Company at the ABC show found that 75% of attendees surveyed approved of holding prices yet were concerned about inflation in the dump truck industry."

You can use the information to develop a short presentation which you can send to all clients and everyone who stopped by your booth. Putting the presentation on your web site may also be a good idea.

O'Connor also suggests the use of props to occupy your hands. For example, she says - Do you have a recognisable logo or mascot?

Like the AFLAC duck or the M&M little people. How about a miniature of your product a baby dump truck or recognisable toy that ties to your exhibit.

You can use a give-away, that's fine. If not, just say Nope, can't give him away he just wanted to come to the show and meet folks.

Hold the presentation prop in one hand. There's a curious thing about hands, once one hand is occupied, the other calms down. And, so will you.

Julia O'Connor - Speaker, Author, Consultant - writes about practical aspects of trade shows. As president of Trade Show Training, inc, now celebrating its 11th year, she works with companies in a variety of industries to improve their bottom line and marketing opportunities at trade shows.

Julia is an expert in the psychology of the trade show environment and uses this expertise in sales training and management seminars.

Contact her at 804-355-7800.

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