Pitching: Why appearance matters?

The Engen Pitch and Polish workshop and competition programme which is sponsored by Engen, Nedbank, Raizcorp and Caxton Local Media is in its 10th year.

As in life, when presenting a pitch, appearance counts. This applies not only to what you are wearing but also to how and what you are presenting.

The creator of the project and CEO of Raizcorp, Allon Raiz, discusses a few points around pitching and appearance.

Here are a few things to consider about appearance when you pitch:

• Clothing – the nexus between your context and your personality

We’ve all heard people saying things like, ‘So-and-so is the only person I know who can carry off that outfit. I certainly couldn’t’. The subtext of this kind of statement is that an individual’s personality, background, and confidence give them permission to dress in a certain way. For example, most men would attend a black-tie event in a tuxedo but a fashion designer would not be out of place if he arrived in a red velvet jacket. When pitching, you need to find clothing that is the perfect balance between the context and your personality.

• Flash will dash your prospects

In my experience, flashy jewellery, watches, and accessories become distractions for the audience whose minds start to wonder as they ask themselves things like, I wonder if that is a genuine Rolex or if those are real diamonds, instead of focusing on the substance of the pitch itself. Because a pitcher has such a short time available, every second counts. If you lose your audience because of irrelevant distractions, by the time they return to what you are saying they have probably missed a number of salient points in your pitch. The result, of course, will more than likely be negative.

• Simple is super

Just like with your personal representation, if you have a digital presentation (possibly PowerPoint slides) it should be kept as simple as possible. Never, never use elaborate animations with words and images twirling and flying in. Never, never use weird and wonderful sound effects as new points appear on each slide. Keep things as simple and crisp as possible. Any gimmicks simply become distractions and can be interpreted as a lame attempt to provide substance to a possibly weak pitch.

• The entrance and exit

Always remember that your pitch begins even before you start presenting and only ends after you have stepped off the podium or out of the boardroom. The way in which you walk up to the podium and the way you leave it are visual cues to both the judges (investors) and the audience. Walk with purpose and confidence. If you are carrying items up to the podium, make sure they are carried securely and won’t fall and necessitate the effort to pick them up again. If you place items on the podium, the same rule applies – make sure they won’t fall off. As you leave, remove all your items such as samples, laptop, and brochure ware in a way that is elegant and non-distracting. In general, your bearing needs to be one of ease and comfort as you enter and exit.

Details: www.pitchandpolish.com

Related article:

https://northeasterntribune.co.za/219848/aspiring-entrepreneurs-to-polish-their-pitch/