Think Ahead

Remember the three C’s — cool, calm, and collected!  Whatever happens, no matter how you truly feel, you must act if you are totally in charge and able to overcome any catastrophe. After all, that’s exactly what CEOs do almost every day in the real business world — they solve problems and handle emergencies. If you can’t handle a glitch in your road show, investors won’t have much faith you can handle your company.

Think ahead and have a plan for what you will do if something doesn’t go right.

• Arrive early and test your equipment before the presentation.
• Be ready to deliver your presentation with or without your PowerPoint.
• Carry printouts of your PowerPoint slides, just in case a computer glitch occurs.
• Know which parts of your 20-minute presentation you can leave out if the investor only gives you 15 minutes.
• Be prepared to give the whole presentation yourself if someone on your team doesn’t show up.
• Don’t just memorize your speech. Know the subject so well that you can keep going if you get thrown off by a question or comment.
• Anticipate objections and be prepared to respond in a positive manner.

Seasoned investors won’t just be listening to what you say. They will also be observing how you dress, how you walk, and how you interact with others on your team, as well as the audience. They will be looking for a high achiever who is able to influence and lead people to accomplish a common goal.