Cyber Week Sale! 50% Off All Access

Tips for Delivering Kickass Business Presentations Keep these five important things in mind in order to overcome fear, keep organized and be smart and flexible when responding to questions.

By Lewis Howes Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In business, your next presentation could change your life. Delivering a successful presentation could mean landing a major new contract, better prices for your services or getting the funding you need. Failure can mean lost customers and a business that never gets off the ground.

With so much at stake, it's important to stay calm and perform your best. The next time you deliver a business presentation, keep these five important things in mind:

1. Identify your anxiety.
Speaking publicly probably isn't what's making you afraid. Normally it's something else: fear of criticism, rejection, forgetting or the unknown. Maybe you even have post-traumatic stress from a past speech gone wrong.

All of these issues generally center around one idea: I'm afraid, I can't handle failing at this presentation. Once you see what you're truly afraid of, and that you'll survive even if you mess up, the fear can subside.

Focus on how you need to be in order to execute an outstanding presentation. Start by being confident.

Related: Why Success Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be

2. Keep it short.
Believe in your ability to tell an effective story with a powerful, knock-out punch line. Your audience will appreciate brevity.

I often speak publicly, and when I do, I also get to listen to other presenters. The most memorable are the ones that hit an emotional chord with a tight story and a punch line. No fluff. Keep it creative and concise. Greatness exists in quality, not quantity.

3. Listen if criticized.
Nobody wants to be heckled. As you prepare your speech, it can be easy to imagine someone interrupting you, shouting out what your mind is already telling itself: He lacks experience. He didn't prepare enough. How did he get this job?

In the book, Smart Talk (St. Martin's Griffin, January 2013), author Lisa B. Marshall explains how to handle criticism. "It's important not to disqualify the statement or get defensive. Instead, listen, reflect, and evaluate the comment, then try to move the conversation in the right direction."

Ask some clarifying questions. Listen to the answers. The conversation will get specific enough to address. If so, answer, and then move your speech back on track. If not, remember that you can't please everybody, the moment you focus on that, you'll no longer have a business that stands out.

Related: 5 Branding Tips to Supercharge Your Sales

4. Embrace the unknown.
Prepare for excellence, but acknowledge that even if you practice, surprises can happen. You may have to stand in last-minute for a partner or boss with no time to get ready. Anything is possible.

The good news is that your audience wants you to finish the speech. Some came to your event just to hear your presentation.

Instead of fearing the unknown -- all the bad that can happen -- realize that good things can surprise you as well. Talk to your audience. Opportunities can arise when you listen to their concerns that can lead the presentation toward a better outcome than you planned.

Winners -- athletes and speakers -- prepare beforehand, but they also grasp opportunity when it appears.

5. Just get started already.
Four sets into a timed workout, and I'm just standing there -- staring at the barbell. Speaking can be a lot like exercise: The more time you spend getting ready, the more you mentally build the task into something larger than it actually is.

Once you've started, a lot of the stress goes away. And when you're done, you'll have accomplished your goal. So, take the leap and bet on yourself.

Related: Ways to Achieve Balance as an Entrepreneur

Lewis Howes

New York Times Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur, Coach

Lewis Howes is a New York Times bestselling author of The School of Greatness and The Mask of Masculinity. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American, he is a current USA Men’s National Handball Team athlete. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked Apple podcast, The School of Greatness. Howes was recognized by the White House and President Obama as one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the country under 30. Details magazine called him one of “5 Internet Guru’s that can Make You Rich.”  Howes has been featured on Ellen, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The New York Times, People, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health and other major media outlets.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

'I Just Hustled': She Earned More Than $300,000 Wrapping Gifts Last Year — and It All Started With a Side Hustle

When Michelle Hensley lost her husband to cancer, she needed to figure out how to earn an income for her family.

Growing a Business

This Breakthrough Technology is Poised to Accelerate Your Company's Growth

Discover a breakthrough technology stacked on top of generative AI, now poised to revolutionize businesses across nearly every sector. Unlock unprecedented growth and profitability potential, achieving levels once thought unattainable.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Science & Technology

You Have 1 Month Left to Prepare for These 5 AI-Powered Marketing Changes — Act Now Before It's Too Late.

Big changes in 2025 will redefine marketing as AI evolves rapidly, offering growth opportunities but also risks. Learn how to stay ahead in this week's video, covering new search platforms and avoiding over-automation.

Business News

Google CEO Sundar Pichai Says 'You'll Be Surprised' By How Google Search Changes Next Year

AI has already changed the look of search, but Google's CEO says there are more changes to come.