What Preparation Should Look Like For Today’s Finals Presentation

If you've been following my posts on doing the finals process differently, I've talked a lot about stakeholder alignment. Not so much around where they went to school or their view of your firm, but the challenges of their day job and the pressures facing their industry. 

Most of our clients wrestle with another issue around getting ready – availability. Many firms have subject matter experts that parachute in and handle their “slice of the deck”.  If this is working for you, carry on. If not, here’s why. This meeting is a test for what it will feel like to work with you. The stakeholders in front of you want to hear your story, how you're connected to one another and the ownership you will collectively demonstrate over their plan.  Add to that, any business procuring services is going to demand a higher level of business acumen and an intimate knowledge of their industry.

Point: Since you may not have time as a team to practice your entire presentation, master your piece and master the transitions. Here are a few steps and processes to help you and your team get ready:

Planning:

• Determine the necessary team members - who's right for this list of stakeholders?
• Define roles and responsibilities - the team leader, section experts, time keeper
• Establish ground rules

Preparing:

• Monitor preparation of content - less is more. You are the talent, not the deck
• Coordinate development of visual aids - use laminated job aids and visuals
• Establish hand offs and transitions
• Brainstorm possible objections and questions (and who will handle them)

Practicing

• Rehearse as a team with the agenda (typically provided by a consultant)
• Practice the opening, how you advance, and how you close 
• Practice hand offs, transitions and section timing
• Pose anticipated questions and objections
• Get and give feedback to each other and revise. Re-rehearse the rough spots to save time

Performing:

• Set expectations together using consultant feedback solicited before the meeting
• Discuss the agenda and chart transitions
• Check the tech- most technology in boardrooms is outdated and doesn't work. Bring your own always
• Position team members to the left of the team leader (people read left to right)
• Take time while transitioning – this is pure impact
• In large conference rooms and boardrooms, sit down toward the end of the table for greater intimacy
• Stay on time; there is no penalty for finishing early. Leave time for conversation

Process Checking:

• Seek overall impressions from the team
• Identify what went well
• Develop improvement plans
• Agree to action steps
• Let management know what you need going forward

To learn more about how to get ready for the next generation finals presentation, contact us at info@prodirectcoach.com