Habit 2
Practice your presentation skills
When I started in advertising, I reasoned that I was an outgoing, Type-A personality who liked to tell jokes at parties -- of course I could do a great presentation. But I've changed my views since then. For one thing, presenting is as much about listening as talking.
Creatives often spend too much time talking about what they like about the idea, versus what the client will like about it. It's fine if you can cover both, but good presentations are brief, not exhaustive. Trying to cover too much ground is like a client who wants to put too much information into the ad.
I've always liked Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 rule for presenting to VCs. Use 10 slides. Take no more than 20 minutes. And don't use a font size smaller than 30. This forces a short presentation, a clear outline, and leaves plenty of time for discussion (i.e., listening).
I realize VCs are a unique breed, so I'll often venture outside those parameters. But the principal idea is there. And for extra credit, check out presentations by Kawasaki's old boss, Steve Jobs. He's mastered the art.
To cement all of that, I also recommend more direct speaking experience, such as working with a coach or joining speaking groups like Toastmasters. Practice is key, and running your presentations past an objective audience that will give you immediate feedback is the best practice you can get.
