Presenting the Ideal You

When interviewing for a prospective project, you always want to make a great impression on the selection committee. There are many ways to do that, but before you walk into your next presentation picture yourself this way:

•Warm and approachable
•Caring
•A great conversationalist (because you mostly listen, but you also ask smart questions)
•When you talk about yourself, you’re concise, memorable and you end with sparklers
•You’re from a firm of specialists (not just another design firm)
•You’re really interested in the people to whom you are speaking (the person/people you are addressing should receive a strong feeling that you accept them both personally and professionally, and that you have certain mutual interests in common)

In summary, you want to come across as a multifaceted, down-to-earth, approachable person who is both interested and interesting.

By remembering their likes and dislikes, their personal and professional interests, and which issues were key concerns, this enables you to build communication bridges which enhance your credibility and trust. Though you don’t have to memorize it word for word, you should have it well ingrained in your mind ten key reasons why a prospect should hire you rather than a good competitor. There are limitless ways you can employ these in the right way at the right time and place.

You can use these as sparklers in your presentation and, when appropriate, in less formal conversations. If you keep these tips in mind, you will offer a friendly, high caliber, professional relationship.

Want to hit every presentation out of the park? Join PSMJ this fall for our Winning Proposals and Presentations seminar, coming to 5 locations across North America. Get the tools and confidence you need to succeed in bringing in more work for the firm – register today!