with a company once that had 90 minutes to deliver their presentation, but were limited to 20 slides. Another problem arises when the RFP requests that all visuals be delivered prior to the actual date of the oral presentation. A solution to this problem is presented below. Have one person coordinate preparation of the slides, assuring consistency.
Conduct a Murder Board. Although the “Murder Board" sounds like something Tony Soprano might convene, it has nothing to do with a criminal act and everything to do with becoming a better public speaker and a more persuasive presenter when competing for a Government contract.
The Murder Board is a realistic simulation of the actual oral presentation to be made. Colleagues role-play the Government evaluators, asking the type of questions these people are likely to ask. It allows presenters to make mistakes when they don't count, increasing the odds that they will shine when the actual presentation is made.
The Murder Board is the presenter's version of the actor's dress rehearsal, what lawyers do in preparing a witness to face cross-examination in a trial, and what the flight simulator is to the pilot. Just as with the actor, the witness, and the pilot, this simulation permits presenters to learn from their mistakes, so that the actual presentation is (1) more responsive to the...
informational needs of the audience, (2) answers are developed for likely questions to be asked, and (3) overall speaking confidence and competence are enhanced.
When preparing for an oral presentation for a Government contract, a Murder Board will enable the presenting team to visualize the presentation in advance. Proficiency in speaking is increased by such a meticulous practice, and so too is self–confidence. Public speaking ranks high in the pantheon of phobias because of apprehension that one is going to be embarrassed by not being able to answer questions from the audience. Add to this the pressure on presenters vying for a Government contract with millions of dollars – and perhaps their jobs – on the line, and the need to practice is obvious.
The success or failure of a Murder Board ultimately depends on its realism. The closer it is to the real thing, the better prepared will be the presenters. This realism, to a great degree, depends on the ability of colleagues to get into the heads of the Government evaluators. This does not mean having a great gift for acting or mimicry; but it does mean trying to think like these evaluators. Consequently, intense efforts must be made to acquire as much intelligence as possible on the evaluators and the needs of the agency they represent.
