Give Yourself Five Minutes
In our second blog post for “Secrets of Successful Pitches”, we’re also talking about time, and how giving yourself at least five minutes before your pitch can set you up for a more successful delivery.
I will admit that I am notorious for trying to cram too much in too little time. I often believe I can fill up my water, eat the last forkfuls of my lunch, and dash off one more email all before my next call or meeting. This finds me rushing to the meeting with my heart racing. I haven’t let myself transition or leave the previous task behind to focus on the next one. I arrive at the meeting a little flustered and still trying to get it together. Does this sound familiar?
On the flip side, when I set aside at least five minutes of white space before a meeting or presentation, I find that I perform much better. I use this time to set an intention for how I want to show up, take some deep breaths, and start a fresh page in my notebook. I show up present and ready to participate. My brain isn’t worrying about whether I included the attachment in that email I just sent.
Giving yourself at least five minutes of white space is especially important before your pitch meeting, whether virtual or in-person.
This allows you to get everything out of the way like a bathroom break, drink refill, and computer set-up. Most importantly, it gives you the breathing room to clear your mind and be fully present for your audience.
It also helps ensure you start and end your meeting on time as we discussed in our previous blog post.
Here are five benefits of giving yourself (at least) five minutes:
Increased focus - giving yourself white space allows you to switch your focus from your previous tasks to your next task
Presence - this extra time helps you settle in and be fully present physically and mentally
Calming effect - Rushing into your pitch has a tendency to increase your nerves. Even if you are nervous, breathing room helps calm those nerves and channel that energy.
Preparedness - you’ll have extra time to have everything you need ready to go
Effective meeting start - you will start your meeting with your best foot forward instead of one foot behind
Giving yourself this time will help set you up for a much more successful pitch delivery and ultimately, more successful outcomes.
Interested in taking your pitch to the next level? We’d love to help. Check out Pitch Polish, our convenient and easy service designed to help you elevate your pitch.
