We live in an age of speed. Long texts are quickly set aside. And with long stories, attention is easily distracted. This means that if you want to achieve something, you have to pitch. Short stories with all the ingredients to hold attention and, if possible, convince the other person. Of course, pitching is a skill you have to master by knowing how to build it and by practicing often. Check yourself after every pitch to see if it was effective. Did you achieve your goal? Are there areas for improvement? Only then will you make pitching your own. It even becomes a sport to deliver an effective pitch every single time. Nevertheless, you might want to refresh your memory on a few tools. Hence the tools listed below.
Preparation
Just as with a personal introduction, the first impression is the most important, because it lingers the longest. Therefore, good preparation is of paramount importance. For clarity, a list of elements you need to keep in mind for the preparation is provided below.
- Audience
Get a clear picture of who your audience is. Try to find out more.
- Errand
Tailor your message to that audience. Consider your choice of words and concepts that are clear to them. The pitch can be kept simple in terms of content, but it can also be complex. And if it involves technical expertise, this requires extra attention. In that case, focus primarily on the substance and less on the complexity.
- To practice
Create a list of keywords in the order of your pitch. Do not memorize a pitch, because if someone interrupts you, you might lose your train of thought. Practice the pitch using that list of keywords. Keep the maximum time limit in mind.
- Appearance
Adjust the pace of the pitch to the audience. Can you address the audience informally or not? Is there a dress code, or will it be casual? And will it be a formal or informal pitch? These are all important aspects.
Maintain attention
Typically, attention wanes after an average of just 8 seconds. Or at least, it diminishes. That is why it is so important to capture and hold the audience’s attention in the first few seconds. The very first sentence must demonstrate that you recognize a problem and have the solution. Ensure a compelling opening sentence with facts that exceeds expectations.
Non-verbal communication
So, the strong pitch is written; now for the non-verbal communication. The audience is looking at you, so ensure you have the right, open, and active posture. Facial expressions also make a positive contribution to the pitch. Furthermore, facial expressions are a powerful tool for emphasizing key points. Also, pay attention to your hands and the gestures you make with them. Do not hold anything in your hands, as that only distracts.
Interaction
Observe the audience during the pitch. Try to discover where attention wanes. That is also the moment to seek interaction. However, you can also do this after the pitch. A pitch for one person is easiest for observation and interaction. For an audience, it is useful to incorporate a number of open questions into the pitch. The audience is then more inclined to maintain attention, because they actually want to respond. But not everyone wants to engage in interaction with you, even though they have something to say. In that case, you can seek out the interaction yourself.
Closure
The conclusion is no less important than the opening. It is sometimes neglected because people think the pitch has already been sufficient. As the final text, the conclusion is also the text that lingers the longest. Provide a powerful summary in a few sentences in a way that the audience expects it and will remember the core message.
