Independent Banker - April 2021 - 25

PORTFOLIO LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS
Next: Reaching a growing demographic 
a story, a statistic, a photo or
something surprising. But make
no assumptions that your audience
knows the journey that you're
taking them on.
 Make sure your guidance is
practical and useful. Keep your
language simple and direct.
 Use visuals. Incorporating visuals
in your presentation can speed up
understanding and function as a
memory aid.
 Create a call to action. Leave the
audience with strategies, tips and
information that adds value long
after the event.
The art of presentation
By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA
homas Jeff erson, it is said, gave
only two public speeches during
his eight years as president. Both were
his inaugural addresses, and they
were, reportedly, barely audible. He
was posthumously diagnosed with
social phobia, or what we might now
call stage fright, a condition that many
otherwise accomplished leaders have
been known to suff er from. These
include businessman Warren Buff ett,
who credits his success in part to a
Dale Carnegie public speaking course
that helped him get over his fear.
Making a presentation live on
stage-or even on Zoom-can be
nerve-racking. As a leader, heading up
meetings and giving presentations is
an essential part of your role. Here are
a few ways to make the best of your
time in the spotlight.
 Start by being prepared. It
may be tempting to wing it, but
the worst time to determine what
you're going to say is while you're
saying it!
T
 Know your audience. Think
about who you are speaking to, and
tailor your message accordingly.
 Be present. Look for cues from,
and make connections with, your
audience. Use examples that they
can relate to.
 Put energy into your
performance. There is nothing
worse for an audience than
knowing their presenter's heart
isn't in it. It may seem like a cliché,
but remember to smile.
 Breathe. Literally, just breathe.
Write the word breathe in your
notes during the fi rst two minutes
of your presentation.
 Pace yourself. Don't rush through
your presentation. But equally,
don't ramble. Be aware of your
timing. And don't forget comedic
timing, too. A little humor goes a
long way!
 Take your audience on a
journey. Start with an intriguing
piece of information. It could be
 Make yourself available for
questions. Opening yourself
up to questions will provide you
with invaluable feedback, which
is exactly what you'll need for the
next time you take to the stage.
If things don't go entirely to plan,
remember that success requires
practice. Don't practice until you get
it right. Practice until you can't get
it wrong. 
Make your next
speech better
For resources related to the
art of presentation, check
out Community Banker
University's online training
courses. Examples include
Enhancing Your Speaking
Skills, Presentations That Work,
Communicating Persuasively
and Running Eff ective Meetings.
Lindsay LaNore (lindsay.lanore@
icba.org) is group executive vice
president and chief learning and
experience off icer
independentbanker.org Q 25
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - April 2021

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