The Effective Business Communication Playbook

Long before we present, we need to hone and nurture skills and mindsets that will help create and deliver effective business presentations. Five areas for mastering are offered while you prepare for your next pitch, class, lecture or presentation.

We all miss the energy and the interaction with a live audience or classroom. However, we can communicate our business messages just as effectively if we make the video conference platforms our stage. With the right message, a compact slide deck and enthusiasm, we can persuade and convince audiences to believe in our ideas or proposals in the current video meetings we do during the pandemic.

A sound rule of thumb when creating slides for a presentation is to make each slide like a billboard on the road. Use just a few lines of text, bullet points and just the right amount of pictures or graphics to explain your message. Don't let the slide deck do everything because you're still needed to make the presentation.  Let each slide grab attention and deliver your message.

After planning and considering how to pitch your business presentation, it's time to determine the persuasive approaches that will help seal the deal for your department, company or organization.  

You already have your messages in your presentation.  But how you actually speak will matter.  A conversational tone, especially in this video conference era, will go a long way in connecting with your audience.

Presenting remains an integral part of doing business, whether live in front of an audience or through a video conference platform. The episode offers a framework that can help organize your presentation and deliver your key points while holding on to a listener's attention.

Veteran all-around advertising and public relations man Norman Agatep shares his views and recommendations on how businesses can craft their messages in this complex, multi-platform world. Agatep is the president of two professional associations in the Philippines: The Public Relations Society of the Philippines and the 4As Advertising group.  He is the president and managing director as well of Grupo Agatep which services both advertising and PR clients.

A thematic line that states your business or idea can be a great hook to get your audience interested in what you want to propose or discuss. From that well-thought of collapsed idea, a well-organized presentation, pitch or lecture can emanate. The opening line is even more meaningful to the listener if it connects to his or her needs, questions, concerns or experiences.  It's challenging to create, but once you get the hang of it, you will get listeners interested in what you have to say.

In our business communication, we tend to jump into our sales pitch or teaching too early without first considering what our audience is thinking or worrying about. Finding out what our audience needs and concerns are provide a great place to start to make that communication connection.  

Communication confidence that is so essential for business and work success can be learned and mastered. This episode asks listeners to review where their speaking and presenting confidence are right now.  Useful habits that can be used are shared so that the confidence builds and prospers.