Do Not Stand While Presenting To VCs(getventure.typepad.com)
getventure.typepad.com
Do Not Stand While Presenting To VCs
http://getventure.typepad.com/markpeterdavis/2007/10/do-not-stand-wh.html
In your meeting with a VC ignore those magazine ads that show an executive standing and pointing at a pie chart while other executives sitting around the board room clap. Those images don't apply to venture. Plain and simple, don't stand unless you have to...
12 comments
>>1. It makes the format feel more formal, reducing your ability to develop a rapport with the VCs and making the interaction more awkward.
I'm not sure about this. A standing presentation gives you the opportunity to communicate a lot using body language instead of 'hiding' behind the table and your laptop.
>> 2. It implies that you expect to walk the VC through your presentation slide by slide which may make you look green - seasoned entrepreneurs know that the flow of the conversation will be anything but predictable.
Hu? YOU are the presentation, not your slides.
>> 3. It limits the length of the meeting, as few presenters can stand for the length of a meeting.
Good! No presentation should last more than 15 minutes.
>> 4. Your partner will be forced to focus on flipping slides rather than engaging in the dialogue.
Not necessarily true. Whoever leads the presentation can change the slides with a remote control.
>> 5. Most people look awkward when it comes to delivering a standing presentation.
Sure. That's why you must practice before. It's a presentation! Face your audience!
I'm not sure about this. A standing presentation gives you the opportunity to communicate a lot using body language instead of 'hiding' behind the table and your laptop.
>> 2. It implies that you expect to walk the VC through your presentation slide by slide which may make you look green - seasoned entrepreneurs know that the flow of the conversation will be anything but predictable.
Hu? YOU are the presentation, not your slides.
>> 3. It limits the length of the meeting, as few presenters can stand for the length of a meeting.
Good! No presentation should last more than 15 minutes.
>> 4. Your partner will be forced to focus on flipping slides rather than engaging in the dialogue.
Not necessarily true. Whoever leads the presentation can change the slides with a remote control.
>> 5. Most people look awkward when it comes to delivering a standing presentation.
Sure. That's why you must practice before. It's a presentation! Face your audience!
It is true that investors will find it a tad more difficult to reject a group once they feel like they know you. By sitting down you would appear more human, whereas standing up gives a more commercial look.
From a sales course I recently attended, the lecturer told a sequence from one of her recent trips. They were in a small town in Turkey and she and some friends had just gotten off a bus. A sorry looking man came up to her and asked, "Do you have any medicine for my head?" She was caught off guard and responded, "What?" The man points to his head and says, "My head pains, do you have any medicine?" She then understood that he was talking about painkillers and eventually got some painkillers from one of her friends and handed them to the man. With a big smile on his face, the man says, "You are very kind! Come I show you my shop."
From a sales course I recently attended, the lecturer told a sequence from one of her recent trips. They were in a small town in Turkey and she and some friends had just gotten off a bus. A sorry looking man came up to her and asked, "Do you have any medicine for my head?" She was caught off guard and responded, "What?" The man points to his head and says, "My head pains, do you have any medicine?" She then understood that he was talking about painkillers and eventually got some painkillers from one of her friends and handed them to the man. With a big smile on his face, the man says, "You are very kind! Come I show you my shop."
If you know what you're doing, a standing presentation will be more effective than a sitting presentation.
Steve Jobs doesn't seem to have a problem establishing a rapport with his audience.
Steve Jobs doesn't seem to have a problem establishing a rapport with his audience.
The article isn't saying that all standing presentations are bad, just ones with VC. With that said, I think that people should present however they're most comfortable.
Effective speaking before a strange audience is as much about power as it is about communication. If you look weak, sloppy, or disorganized, you're going to have a bad time. Sitting down certainly doesn't help you look strong, neat or organized, and in the worst case, it probably hurts you.
Ultimately, this fellow's argument sounds a lot like those people who worry about being "too formal", and therefore under-dress for every occasion. If you're in doubt, dress up and stand up. Neither can hurt you.
Ultimately, this fellow's argument sounds a lot like those people who worry about being "too formal", and therefore under-dress for every occasion. If you're in doubt, dress up and stand up. Neither can hurt you.
Personally I have never given a presentation to a VC however I have had to give presentations to collegiate audiences and I can tell you that standing helps in those situations. Indeed, I have never even seen any professors sit down while lecturing. As is said elsewhere in this thread, body language is restricted while sitting. Body language can capture the audience's attention and put an energetic charge into your presentation which can excite your audience.
If you hit your audience with a series of dull PowerPoint slides, be sure to bring lots of coffee to help them stay awake. In college some of my professors would do nothing but flip PP slides and drone behind a pedestal. No movement other than to click the mouse. Oh the torment of those classes. Never underestimate the potential destructive power of PowerPoint to otherwise good information.
Recently I was introduced to a group that actually teaches how to do public speaking. For all those interested, it's called toastmasters. You can find them at http://www.toastmasters.org/ Some of their members include people such as senators, prime ministers, and lots of CEO's so it can't be too much of a waste of time and money.
I have not had the time to try it out but I believe that it will be worth a look shortly.
Regards, Derek
If you hit your audience with a series of dull PowerPoint slides, be sure to bring lots of coffee to help them stay awake. In college some of my professors would do nothing but flip PP slides and drone behind a pedestal. No movement other than to click the mouse. Oh the torment of those classes. Never underestimate the potential destructive power of PowerPoint to otherwise good information.
Recently I was introduced to a group that actually teaches how to do public speaking. For all those interested, it's called toastmasters. You can find them at http://www.toastmasters.org/ Some of their members include people such as senators, prime ministers, and lots of CEO's so it can't be too much of a waste of time and money.
I have not had the time to try it out but I believe that it will be worth a look shortly.
Regards, Derek
Wow, I am just amazed by this.
I cannot speak from the perspective of an entrepreneur, but in my current situation, I always stand when presenting to customers and suppliers. It's more professional and more respectful. Sitting down is body language for "I don't think highly enough of you to keep standing." Some may disagree; I learned that the hard way.
I cannot speak from the perspective of an entrepreneur, but in my current situation, I always stand when presenting to customers and suppliers. It's more professional and more respectful. Sitting down is body language for "I don't think highly enough of you to keep standing." Some may disagree; I learned that the hard way.
Having worked for a top-line VC firm and sat through _a lot_ of presentations I agree with the article. Standing to present feels weird. The general atmosphere in a VC meeting is that everyone around the table is having a discussion, the slides are there to facilitate the discussion.
John.
John.
really?