How to deliver a more confident pitch in a sales meeting

Many of us will admit to feeling a pinch of nerves before an important presentation, public speaking or investor pitch. In fact, research has found that many people actually fear public speaking. If you’re just getting started as an entrepreneur, building a confident pitching style is an important skill to master; try these tips to help you feel calmer and in control the next time you present to a client, pitch for a new project or have to stand on stage in front of an audience at an industry conference or event.

1.   Practice, practice, practice

The old saying that practise makes perfect really is true but it’s a great way to also build confidence. If you feel stumbling over your words or forgetting an important point, the more you practise, the more you’ll feel that you really know and can remember your material. While it’s fine to have cue cards and visual aids such as a PowerPoint presentation to lead you through your pitch, the last thing you’ll want to do is read from a script. That breaks the connection with your audience and kills engagement – so instead, set aside plenty of time to run through your materials before your pitch so you can deliver it confidently from memory when the big day comes.

2.   Be comfortable in the space you’re presenting

Whether you’re delivering your pitch on home turn or, at an unknown location, it’s important to feel comfortable in the space. While you’ll obviously know your own boardroom or office, it’s still important to walk through the space and check that you have everything that is needed.

·        Being comfortable really is synonymous with being prepared:

·        Check your AV equipment is plugged in and working properly

·        Have a practise run with the microphone and clicking through any presentations on a big screen

·        Have water set out and to hand

·        Check the lighting is to your liking and doesn’t glare on the screen

·        Be aware of the location of things like cables, stairways and other trip hazards

·        If you’re presenting on a stage, have someone stand at the back of the room and check they can see and hear you at different locations on the stage



3.   Study the professionals

If you really are serious about developing a confident, effective pitching style, study how the pros do it. Watch a few TED talks of people you admire and study how they make their deliveries and the tactics they used to keep the audience engaged.