{"id":217509,"date":"2019-09-10T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/217509\/your-appearance-matters-when-pitching-your-business\/"},"modified":"2019-09-10T14:04:01","modified_gmt":"2019-09-10T12:04:01","slug":"your-appearance-matters-when-pitching-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/09\/10\/your-appearance-matters-when-pitching-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Your appearance matters when pitching your business"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Engen Pitch & Polish workshop and competition programme, which is sponsored by Engen, Nedbank, Raizcorp and Caxton Local Media, is in its 10th year.<\/p>\n

Creator of the project and CEO of Raizcorp Allon Raiz discusses a few points around pitching and appearance.<\/p>

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As in life, when presenting a pitch, appearance counts.<\/p>\n

This applies not only to what you are wearing but also to how and what you are presenting.<\/p>

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Here are a few things to consider about appearance when you pitch.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Clothing, the nexus between your context and your personality<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all heard people saying things like, \u201cSo-and-so is the only person I know who can carry off that outfit. I certainly couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

The subtext of this kind of statement is that an individual\u2019s personality, background and confidence gives them permission to dress in a certain way.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

When pitching, you need to find clothing that perfectly balances the context and your own personality.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Flash will dash your prospects<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Allon\u2019s experience, flashy jewellery, watches and accessories become distractions for the audience, whose minds start to wander as they ask themselves things like, \u201cI wonder if that is a genuine Rolex or if those are real diamonds,\u201d instead of focusing on the substance of the pitch itself.<\/p>\n

Because a pitcher has such a short time available, every second counts.<\/p>\n

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 of your pitch.<\/p>\n

The result, of course, will more than likely be negative.<\/p>\n

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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n

How to prepare a good business pitch<\/a><\/p>\n

Engen Pitch & Polish celebrates 10 years<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2022 Simple is super<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just like with your personal representation, if you have a digital presentation (possibly PowerPoint slides) it should be kept as simple as possible.<\/p>\n

Never, ever use elaborate animations with words and images twirling and flying in.<\/p>\n

Never, ever use weird and wonderful sound effects as new points appear on each slide.<\/p>\n

Keep things as simple and crisp as possible.<\/p>\n

Any gimmicks simply become distractions and can be interpreted as a lame attempt to provide substance to a possibly weak pitch.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The entrance and exit<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Walk with purpose and confidence.<\/p>\n

If you are carrying items up to the podium make sure they are carried securely and don\u2019t fall and necessitate the effort to pick them up again.<\/p>\n

If you place items on the podium, the same rule applies: make sure they won\u2019t fall off.<\/p>\n

As you leave, remove all your items such as samples, laptop and brochure in a way that is elegant and non-distracting.<\/p>\n

In general, your bearing needs to be one of ease and comfort as you enter and exit.<\/p>\n

For more information visit www.pitchandpolish.com.<\/p>\n

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Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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