Presentation Skills for Finance

ProfessionalsAubrey Joachim FCMA CGMA

Principal Consultant

Anyone can present!

• Taking the mystery and misery out of presenting

• The art of presenting is a series of skills that can be

mastered

OPEN UP

OPEN UPOwn the room!

OPEN UPOwn the room!

An actor complete into a character

OPEN UPOwn the room!

Walk the stage with confidence

OPEN UPOwn the room!

Open, communicative style

A good presenter is …….

Organised

• Take charge

• Poised and polished

• Prepared

• Not overwhelming – inform, persuade, influence

• Entertain and enlighten

• Well structured message

A good presenter is …….

Passionate

• Exude enthusiasm and confidence

• Speak from the heart

• Energy – persuasive and contagious

• Gestures

A good presenter is …….

Engaging

• Engage each audience member

• Build rapport

• Involve the audience early

A good presenter is …….

Natural

• Exhibits a natural style

• Conversational delivery style

• Comfortable with the audience

• Appears confident

A good presenter must …….

Understand the audience

• Learn about your audience

A good presenter must …….

Practice

• Practice to improve

• Desire to become better

– Present a proposal

– Deliver a keynote presentation

– Sell an idea to your boss

– Interview for a job

– Present the monthly financials

Structuring your story

• A good structure allows you to:

– Frame your objectives

– Cover all relevant material

– Transition smoothly from topic to topic

– Finish strong

• A longstanding and favoured structure is:

– Tell them what you are going to tell them – opening

– Tell them - body

– Tell them what you just told them - closing

The power of delivery

• Factors influencing the perception of the spoken message

– 7% of audience perception is associated with words

– 38% of audience perception is associated with voice

– 55% of audience perception is associated with non-verbals

• The power of non-verbal communication

– Posture

– Gestures

– Visual aids

The dynamics of voice

• “If you don’t sound interested, why would the audience be?”

• Pointers to improving the dynamics of voice

– Volume

– Inflection

– Pacing / tempo – speak, pause, breathe, speak

– Eliminate verbal graffiti

Engaging your audience

• Speak to the interests of your audience

• Use stories, examples and anecdotes

• Eye contact – an essential engagement tool

• Don’t waste time talking to inanimate objects

• Smile

• Use names early and often

• Get your feet working

• Use current events that supplement your topics

• Dish out humour

• Read your audience

• Get your audience involved

Being natural

• A natural speaker is a lively speaker

• Formal scripted presentations do not flow naturally

• Conversational is best

• Practice makes perfect

Conducting Q&A sessions

• The credibility of a presenter can rise or fall during the Q&A

• Q&A Tips and Techniques

– Composure

– Read the audience

– Rehearse

• Successful Q&A’s depend on the framing of the presentation

• Buying time to gather your thoughts

Finally ……..

Take every opportunity to speak or present

Enjoy the experience!

This presentation brings together ideas from “The Exceptional Presenter” by Koegel

and as practiced by Aubrey Joachim