2022-04-22
As true as it is said - be yourself. Many people talk about taking on the role of CEO or similar but I usually just think about being myself. It is often the case that you sell yourself before you sell your company.
I don't like to be too "dressed up" and I would have been happy to be on stage in shorts and a band t-shirt. I therefore "dress up" within the framework of what I think is comfortable. If I had been in an expensive suit, it would not have felt like me and then I do not sell the image of who I really am and who I want to be.
I understand that many people think it feels a little scary to stand on stage and talk in front of people. I myself have been on stage since high school when I played/play in several bands. What I have learned over the years is not to be afraid of the stage and not to make a fool of myself.
Should you get lost, don't be afraid to offer a laugh or a disarming comment and try to own the situation! If you start to get nervous, the audience will sense it. On the other hand, if you handle the situation with a swift kick, it will often rub off.
I also try to eliminate practical problems that could make me nervous or stressed. Before the pitch, it helps me to know, for example, what the stage looks like, how the technology works, where to get off the stage and where to stand during the presentation itself. Make a mental checklist and check it off and it will feel calmer!
A tip if you are going to be on a larger stage and need to use a handheld microphone is to make sure you know how to hold it. Unfortunately, I've seen too many presenters holding the mic down by their stomach so it's hard to hear. You also run the risk of losing your flow if the moderator has to interrupt and ask you to hold the mic differently.
If you're not sure how to hold the mic - check Youtube! It's all there ;)
I always practice before a pitch so I know what to say (sort of) and to get a good flow in my presentation. I've probably spent a few hours at home wandering around and doing my pitch out loud to myself. I have also filmed when I pitch to myself. Hearing your voice is good practice. Walking around a bit when you're doing your pitch is also good.
Once I'm pitching in real life, I sometimes improvise a bit as I go along. I rarely say exactly the same things from one pitch to another. The basis is the same but the performance can vary. So practicing different scenarios is not a bad idea. For example, if you are pitching in a place with a focus on the environment, you may want to talk a little more about it.
Often a pitch is limited to 2, 3, 5 or 8 minutes. Keep in mind that you don't actually need to use all that time. Focus on the most important things. Maybe you will have more time for questions?
Björn Holmström from Bengtsfors is the founder of the startup NSS Water Enhancement Technology. In 2022, he will be awarded Åforsk's prestigious entrepreneurship scholarship and listed as one of 10 innovative entrepreneurs to watch. Björn's innovation, which he is developing in our incubator, will help high-tech industries become self-sufficient in nanopure water. "The need for ultra-pure water is extremely important in the life science and semiconductor industries, for example. At the same time, it poses major challenges. The PCR water currently used in healthcare is difficult to produce and costs up to SEK 45,000 per liter. With Björn's solution, a hospital could become self-sufficient in this type of water at a much lower cost and with higher quality!
