Never underestimate the benefits of finding your anchor point ahead of presenting.
When are you presenting?
Most people could answer this question easily – for example 10.30am on Tuesday.
That is when you are supposed to be presenting.
You could be asked to speak at exactly 10.30am.
However, when you are supposed to be presenting is not always the same as when you end up presenting.
The session could be running very late, and you are called at 11.19am.
Or you might be called slightly early.
You want to be ready to speak, no matter what.
Find an Anchor Point that gives you fair notice, so you can prepare mentally.
This is best illustrated by an example.
When I was a trainee solicitor in the late nineties, I had the privilege of representing clients regularly at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
There might be dozens of procedural hearings in the session, and I would be involved in a couple of them.
This could last a few hours, so you had to concentrate hard.
The job was made easier, though, by a piece of wise advice from a more senior solicitor.
Her advice was this.
“When you go to the Sheriff Clerk’s office to check the running order, make a note of the name of the case immediately before any of your cases. Listen out for those names. When you hear the name – you know you are next.”
This was excellent advice.
In most cases you would have a few minutes of warning before it was your turn to speak.
Even if the previous case had no representatives present, you would still have thirty seconds’ notice.
In either scenario, the previous case name served as a perfect anchor point to compose yourself.
Apply this concept to your own presentation scenario…
- Are there some opening remarks from the chair or host?
- What is the previous speaker finishing with?
- Is there a coffee break before your turn?
- What is the last slide in the presentation before you?
Do your best to find an anchor point.
And use it to help you get mentally ready.
This will serve you better than simply looking at your watch.
For further tips and lessons on presenting – why not check out the following article on…
