Basics of giving Exec. Briefings

Imagine you need executive approval. You have prepped a powerpoint pitch / storyboard / memo. You have slaved over it. Rewritten it. Validated it.  You are offered an appointment/audience on the calendar in two weeks but the time is really now. Suddenly, you spot the executive on their way to the washroom. (or in an elevator or at the coffee machine... In all honesty, I always found them in the three precious minutes they stole from a meeting to stride purposefully to the washroom.) There's no time to show a piece of paper or ask for a glance at a computer screen. Now. You can brief them Now.

Are you ready to:

• Keep ask narrow & specific
• Summarize in 2 minutes or less
• State it aloud - Don't rely on a ppt or paper

 ----------------------------------------------

#1 Lead with Relevance:

• The main thing they need to know
• Why is this important to executive
• Who else cares

Follow with Supposition

• The action we could take
• Alternatives if required

Support with evidence

• How do we know what we know
• What is source and how reliable is it

Add connections

• How this is connected to other things
• Where it may have happened before
• Cause /effect

#2 Recap

• Here's what you need to know; how we all feel about it; what we propose you need to do

The less urgent the audience's need to go the washroom… the more of the list can be covered.

But prepare to only have time to do top/bottom of list. The more time is crunched, the more one cuts out of the middle.

10 steps for presentation nerves

1 - Breathe.

Really. Sounds simple but usually we hold our breathe when nervous. You’ll sometimes see me put my hand on my belly button when presenting to remind myself to breathe deeply.

2 – Smile.

Most folks are not looking for mistakes. They’re looking for you to succeed. They’re on your side.

3 – Look at their eyebrows.

Eyes are distracting. When you look at eyebrows it looks like you’re looking people in the eye but you’re not ;-)

4 – Take your time.

A 5 second pause feels like eons to the speaker but only a breath to the listener. Try it.

5 – Know who are your allies.

Look at them. See them smile and nod back at you.

6 – Know your material.

Feel confident in your idea even if you’re not confident in your speaking.

7 – Give yourself permission to not be perfect

It’s ok to stumble or say “I don’t know; I’ll get back to you”

8 – Plant both feet when speaking.

Stand like a tree, rooted.

9 – Practice. A lot.

Do your presentation in a mirror. Laugh with yourself. Enjoy it.

10 – Breathe.

Anyone have more to add?