Secrets of Fortune 50 presentations

- I'm not sure if I should be telling you this, but I will. Here are five things that I learned presenting at a Fortune 50 company so that you can steal this for your next presentation. One, no one owes you their attention. You have to earn it. Start the presentation with an attention grabber. Maybe celebrate your latest win so that you give them an opportunity to say, "Huh, this person knows what they're talking about." Two, the audience is supportive but impatient. They will listen to you for about five seconds before they decide whether or not you're worth their time and attention. You need to be honest, transparent, and energetic. Pepper your presentation with insights that make people go, "Hmm, interesting." Three, backup slides. Not only are they a lifesaver in a pinch where you get asked that one unexpected, difficult question, but they also give you the internal reassurance that I got this. Four, every single presentation is an opportunity to build your visibility, to build your personal brand. Take it, seize it. I still remember the first time that I presented as a junior manager to one of the VPs in the company at Procter & Gamble, and people would come up to me for weeks before and after telling me what an awesome opportunity it was that I would get to present to this person.