Episode 16 – Research shows that stage presence is the leading predictor of success when pitching to investors. Improve your stage presence with these 6 tips ​ Research published in the September/October edition of Harvard Business Review found that stage presence was the leading predictor of success in gaining funding from investors. Sadly 75% of people suffer from Glossophobia or the fear of public speaking. And if you are nervous your stage presence will not be ideal. But it can be improved with these ideas. Solid preparation of what you want to say will improve your confidence, be sure of your facts, Practice Practice. but this alone may not be enough to deliver a strong stage presence. Think like your audience, if you come on stage, go behind the podium and stand rigidly – the signal to the audience is that you are uncertain. If you come on the stage in a confident manner, without notes and an open body language this conveys confidence and competence. Do not be static. Move around when presenting. How much you move depends on the size of the audience. If it is a large room you should move from one side of the stage to the other in a smooth flow, stopping at times, the objective is to engage the entire audience. Not to have their heads snapping from side to side as if watching a tennis match. Use the stage as a prop to your talk. The back of the stage is to deliver the big picture, the facts, the background setting the scene. The middle of the stage is for the main content of your pitch, the why investors should be interested in what you have to say. The front of the stage is the area of greatest intimacy with your audience. This is where you make the ask, will you invest in my business and here is why you should. If the area is limited, TED speakers are told that they have to stay on a little red carpet on the stage. Consider how effective most TED speakers are at conveying their message. If you have limited space decide where you will stand and use gestures to convey your enthusiasm When presenting live your first impression is not made when you start speaking, it starts when you enter the stage. Plan your entrance, know where you will stand. This will make our entrance confident and purposeful.