The document provides 5 tips for presenting to executives: 1) Get to the point in 1 minute, 2) Talk about problems winning in the marketplace rather than today's problems, 3) Sell a vision before discussing details, 4) Lead with stories rather than data, and 5) Don't be afraid of executives but show how your project can help address their fears. The tips are summarized using humor and examples to engage executives as the intended audience.
6. EXECS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR TALENT
I would sayyou have
SOME potential.
in fact
MOST OF AN EXECS WORK
GETS DONE THROUGH
THE PEOPLE THEY HIRE
7. AN EXECS SUCCESS DEPENDS ON
SURROUNDING THEMSELVES WITH
PEOPLE THEY CAN TRUST
PEOPLE WHO WILL HIT DEADLINES
PEOPLE WHO CAN AVOID MAJOR PROBLEMS
8. AND THEY JUDGE YOU BY
HOW YOU PRESENT
CAN YOU HANDLE PRESSURE?
DO YOU KNOW YOUR BUSINESS?
ARE YOU AUTHORITATIVE?
ARE YOU CREDIBLE?
ARE YOU TRUSTWORTHY?
9. IF YOURE THAT KIND OF PERSON,
I could see you in the
recording studio
TOMORROW!
YOU CAN COUNT ON THE
EXECS FULL SUPPORT
10. HERES 5 TIPS
TO HELP YOU NAIL YOUR NEXT
EXECUTIVE PRESENTATION
Lets see what youve got.
When youre ready
16. Im here to present our
marketing plan. Now, as you can
see from this SWOT Analysis, our
strengths are in technical support
and integration with existing
infrastructure. Our weaknesses are
in perceived cost and perceived
technology lock-in.
Next slide please.
Awareness is trending up over the
past four quarters, but
STOP!
17. IN FACT, HERES AN IDEA FOR YOU
AFTER YOUVE SPOKEN FOR A FEW MINUTES,
STOP AND ASK THEM A QUESTION
18. Im here to present our
marketing plan. With this plan,
well increase sales by 15% over
the next 4 quarters
19. Im here to present our
marketing plan. With this plan,
well increase sales by 15% over
the next 4 quarters
Do you think were being
aggressive enough?
Actually, I was just going to
suggest
20. Im here to present our
marketing plan. With this plan,
well increase sales by 15% over
the next 4 quarters
Do you think were being
aggressive enough?
Actually, I was just going to
suggest
21. QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT ASK
Is this how youd define success?
How important is this market to
our long term strategy?
Do you agree weve prioritized
our opportunities correctly?
23. EXECUTIVES LIVE IN A DIFFERENT TIME ZONE
THE FUTURE
How can we turn this multi-
million dollar company into a
multi-BILLION dollar company?
24. THEY ARE ALWAYS THINKING
3 YEARS AHEAD
HOW DO WE GROW?
HOW DO WE BEAT COMPETITORS?
HOW DO WE DEFEND PREMIUM MARGINS?
25. THEY ARE ALWAYS THINKING
ABOUT 3 YEARS FORWARD
HOW DO WE GROW?
HOW DO WE BEAT COMPETITORS?
HOW DO WE DEFEND PREMIUM MARGINS?
26. THEY ARE ALWAYS THINKING
ABOUT 3 YEARS FORWARD
HOW DO WE GROW?
HOW DO WE BEAT COMPETITORS?
HOW DO WE DEFEND PREMIUM MARGINS?
27. SO DONT FOCUS ON
PROBLEMS AFFECTING YOU TODAY
Customer satisfaction is down
about 3% this quarter.
Teds team is supposed to be
working on that.
28. FOCUS ON PROBLEMS THAT WILL AFFECT
THEM OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS
AND HOW THEYLL WIN IN THE MARKETPLACE
Customer satisfaction is down
about 3% this quarter.
If were going to grow 15% over
the next three years, we need to
hold onto our existing customers.
I agree. What do you
recommend?
29. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HELP THEM
SELL FASTER?
RETAIN EXISTING CUSTOMERS?
CAPTURE NEW CUSTOMERS?
INCREASE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION?
REACH NEW MARKETS?
DEFEND HIGHER MARGINS?
TAKE THE COMPETITORS CUSTOMERS?
FIND NEW DISTRIBUTORS?
CREATE DIFFERENTIATED PRODUCTS?
30. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HELP THEM
SELL FASTER?
RETAIN EXISTING CUSTOMERS?
CAPTURE NEW CUSTOMERS?
INCREASE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION?
REACH NEW MARKETS?
DEFEND HIGHER MARGINS?
TAKE THE COMPETITORS CUSTOMERS?
FIND NEW DISTRIBUTORS?
CREATE DIFFERENTIATED PRODUCTS?
NOT JUST SOLVE TODAYS PROBLEMS
31. #3 SELL A VISION BEFORE DISCUSSING
THE DETAILS
32. NEW PRESENTERS MAKE A BIG MISTAKE
THEY ARE IN A HURRY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
THEY WANT TO DO BEFORE THE EXEC IS
BOUGHT INTO THE VISION
We need to invest $1 million in a
big public relations push.
One million?
Thats a lot of money.
33. EXECS ARE BIG PICTURE PEOPLE
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY BEFORE
GETTING TO THE DETAILS
Yes. Shudder Chapstick is the
agency of record. They arent
cheap.
What about WBBC? Theyd
probably do it for half.
34. INSTEAD, FOCUS ON GETTING THE EXEC
NODDING AT THE VISION
THEN MOVE INTO THE DETAILS
35. The press is ripping us apart. Our
sales guys say its really slowing
the sales cycle.
So what are we going to
do about it?
We need to get some of the key
papers on our side. Like the Wall
Street Journal and USA Today.
Good thought.
Weve found an agency with
good contacts at both papers. We
can probably have features
printed within 4 weeks.
36. NOW THE EXEC IS READY TO
MOVE INTO THE DETAILS
Weve found an agency with
good contacts at both papers. We
can probably have features
printed within 4 weeks.
DO IT! GO!
38. EXECS ARE SMART PEOPLE
THEY RESPECT DATA
You have the most votes
39. EXECS ARE SMART PEOPLE
THEY RESPECT DATA
BUT THEY TRUST THEIR GUT
But I think weve learned that
having the most votes does NOT
guarantee a big career.
40. THEY KNOW DATA IS OFTEN INCORRECT,
INCOMPLETE OR EVEN BIASED
SO THEY LISTEN TO THEIR OWN INSTINCTS
WHEN MAKING BIG STRATEGIC DECISIONS
41. THEY KNOW DATA IS OFTEN INCORRECT,
INCOMPLETE OR EVEN BIASED
SO THEY LISTEN TO THEIR OWN INSTINCTS
WHEN MAKING BIG STRATEGIC DECISIONS
What are CUSTOMERS saying?
42. THEY KNOW DATA IS OFTEN INCORRECT,
INCOMPLETE OR EVEN BIASED
SO THEY LISTEN TO THEIR OWN INSTINCTS
WHEN MAKING BIG STRATEGIC DECISIONS
What are CUSTOMERS saying?
What are COMPETITORS doing?
43. THEY KNOW DATA IS OFTEN INCORRECT,
INCOMPLETE OR EVEN BIASED
SO THEY LISTEN TO THEIR OWN INSTINCTS
WHEN MAKING BIG STRATEGIC DECISIONS
What are CUSTOMERS saying?
What are COMPETITORS doing?
What do our LARGEST PARTNERS think?
44. SO LEAD WITH STORIES THAT
APPEAL TO GUT INSTINCTS
Our biggest partner is getting
into this space.
I know Al. Hes a smart guy.
45. SO LEAD WITH STORIES THAT
APPEAL TO GUT INSTINCTS
Our biggest partner is getting
into this space.
I know Al. Hes a smart guy.
USE DATA TO BACK IT UP
This study shows customer
interest is increasing.
Maybe we need to be
doing something here.
46. #5 DONT BE AFRAID OF EXECUTIVES.
BE AFRAID FOR THEM
47. ITS COMMON TO BE
AFRAID OF EXECS
Im not MEAN,
Im just HONEST.
THERES EVEN A TERM
FOR IT: EXECUPHOBIA
48. BUT DONT LET EXECS INTIMIDATE YOU
AND RATTLE YOUR PRESENTATION
49. BUT DONT LET EXECS INTIMIDATE YOU
AND RATTLE YOUR PRESENTATION
INSTEAD, BE AFRAID FOR THEM
50. BUT DONT LET EXECS INTIMIDATE YOU
AND RATTLE YOUR PRESENTATION
INSTEAD, BE AFRAID FOR THEM
AND SHOW HOW YOUR
PROJECT CAN PROTECT THEM
FROM THE THINGS THEY FEAR
51. BELIEVE IT OR NOT
EXECS HAVE A LOT TO FEAR
FEAR OF FAILURE
FEAR OF DEMOTION
FEAR OF LEGAL ACTION
FEAR OF EMBARASSMENT
FEAR OF EMPLOYEE LEAKS
FEAR OF BAD INVESTMENTS
FEAR OF LOSS OF REPUTATION
FEAR OF A TEAM MEMBER SCREWING UP
53. YES, ITS EASY TO BE AFRAID OF EXECS
BUT KEEP THEIR FEARS TOP OF MIND
AND SHOW HOW YOUR PROJECT WILL
HELP TAKE THOSE FEARS AWAY
54. YES, ITS EASY TO BE AFRAID OF EXECS
BUT KEEP THEIR FEARS TOP OF MIND
AND SHOW HOW YOUR PROJECT WILL
HELP TAKE THOSE FEARS AWAY
THIS MINDSET WILL
REDUCE YOUR OWN ANXIETY
56. SUMMARY
5 TIPS FOR PRESENTING TO EXECUTIVES
#1 GET TO THE POINT IN ONE MINUTE
#2 TALK ABOUT PROBLEMS WINNING IN THE MARKETPLACE
#3 SELL A VISION BEFORE DISCUSSING THE DETAILS
tips for presenting to
#4 LEAD WITH STORIES, NOT DATA
EXECUTIVES
#5 DONT BE AFRAID OF EXECUTIVES. BE AFRAID FOR THEM
57. NOW
GO NAIL YOUR NEXT EXEC PRESENTATION!
tips for presenting to
EXECUTIVES
58. NOW
GO NAIL YOUR NEXT EXEC PRESENTATION!
tips for presenting to
EXECUTIVES
That was
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!