When it comes to work and business, the boardroom is the most revered and the most feared place in the office.  Here, the bigwigs of the company gather together to discuss and hear about the most important things.  Presenting a proposal or a report to the esteemed men and women of the board can wreak havoc on someone’s nerves, especially if it’s his or her first time.  So here are some helpful tips that can help one calm that inner storm during an office presentation.

Step 1:  Be thorough with your materials.

Know what you’re presenting really well.  Be mindful of the importance of the presentation and make sure that everything you need has been prepared, from the presentation slides to the fully-charged battery of your laptop.  Be sure to know the order of the slides or the flow of the report without relying too much on notes.  Once you know the flow and content of the presentation by heart, you’ll have more courage to present in front of the big bosses.

Step 2:  Practice.

Days before the big meeting, you can practice presenting that report to your colleagues or immediate superior.  Ask them for tips on how to shake off those jitters and sail through the report or presentation.  Practice at home, in front of the mirror or with your spouse or parents.  Practicing first on your own or with your colleagues gives you that confidence level despite being in a comfort zone.  Once you see that you can handle speaking to a group of people, you can definitely take on a boardroom full of hotshot executives.

Step 3:  Have a back up.

Even if you know the presentation by heart, don’t just rely on what’s going to show up on the screen or what is printed on the hand-outs.  No matter how thorough you were in preparing your materials, something may go wrong, and this will throw you off track.  Be prepared for simple let downs and recover quickly to keep the discussion going.  Keeping it cool speaks volumes of your confidence and professionalism and can even give plus points for you when promotion time comes.

Photo Credit : Dave Neary

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