Hate the thought of doing your 10 minute?

2/3/08

Many new members, and for that matter, some long standing members, hate the idea of having to do their 10 minute. In fact, some positively avoid it. And, having been one of those, I have to say I completely understand the feeling.

But time has changed that. Partly by attending the workshops, (although these really improve your presentation, rather than actually getting you to do a 10 minute in the first place), partly by watching other members do theirs, partly by the improvements made when doing my 60 seconds and becoming more comfortable, but mainly by discovering a plan and having a great idea.

The plan is all about preparation and keeping things simple, about not making things complicated and trying to cram everything you know into 10 minutes. Ensure the timing is right and practise until you feel happy with the way it sounds. Run your 10 minute in private: it’s surprising how different things are when said out loud rather than just read. Practise your presentation in front of a friend if you can and ask for feedback – I hadn’t realised that I danced backward and forward constantly and touched my nose a lot until a very good friend told me.

However, the thing that I have suggested to most people who have hated the idea of ten minutes when they are the centre of attention, is to have a great idea. Something that will make them forget their nerves and make them feel totally at home.

One great example of this was a decorator. Now let’s be honest, not many decorators get up in front of a room full of people and tell them about their businesses – but that’s what we do in BNI. So I suggested that they wallpaper a wall! Well not a wall exactly, but a sheet of board. When it came to the day, they were tense; the first minute of their presentation was nervy, but once they picked up their paste brush they were in their element! It was a brilliant 10 minute and everyone saw at first hand how good they were at their job.

So, as they say, think outside of the box, for a great and fun 10 minute.