How to successfully present your ideas in a business meeting

[Jasz]

When you present ideas, your goal is to get people engaged. You want them to be interested, and you want them to listen carefully.

Stories are memorable and engaging. They're also easier for people to remember than dry statistics or graphs. This is particularly important in business meetings, where everyone needs to be on the same page about what they're trying to accomplish and how they're going to get there.

So how can you use stories effectively in a business meeting? Here are some tips:

1. Story-based presentations are more effective than slide decks that just show data points or charts. The reason for this is simple: Humans are wired for stories. When we see a story, we remember it better than when we see a chart or graph. This means that if you tell your boss an engaging story about why their business plan should succeed, he's more likely to remember it than if you just showed him a bunch of graphs and charts that showed the same thing but didn't take his imagination as part of the process of understanding it.

2. Make sure that each point in your story has a clear connection back to your subject.

 

[Holicent]

You've probably heard the phrase "you never know who's watching" before. This goes for business meetings as well. You can be sure that employers are paying attention, and they may be evaluating your presentation skills.

The first thing to remember is that no one appreciates a good joke as much as an audience that understands the humor and craves more. Use this fact to your advantage by keeping what you say lighthearted and humorous. If you're trying to sell a product or service, make sure the presentation shows how it will benefit your target audience.

Avoid getting too serious or serious about something that is not important. If you're in a meeting with someone who has a lot of power, there's a good chance they won't enjoy having their authority challenged or diminished by someone who doesn't have any power at all. So if you're speaking on behalf of another person or organization when it comes time for questions or comments, be sure to avoid any negative comments about them or anything else in the room.