Presenting a Business Plan

• The business plan must be presented in a form the ’audience’ expects and understands.
• Presenting a business plan in a particular way is intended to win support or create belief in it.
• Both the style in which it is presented and the belief and confidence the presenter has in the business plan will have a major impact on the business plan’s chances of being accepted.
• Winning the support of key players, talking with them and ensuring they understand and accept the business plan prior to formal presentation can be a major factor.
• ’key players’ are not always the people in charge.
• Key players could be shop-floor workers or union representatives, the man who cooks the meals or the woman who drives the van.
• Workers are people vital to the implementation of the business plan and/or who can play a key role in explaining the plan, building support or creating conditions for it to succeed.
• Presenting a business plan is a two-way process, a dialogue between you and the person(s) you are trying to influence.
• Not only must you be able to present your case well but you must have a thorough understanding and knowledge of your business plan.
• If you fully understand your business plan, you will be able to answer their questions and deal with any doubts they have.
• If the proposals are complex or people have a low level of understanding (or cannot devote much time to understanding and evaluating the business plan) then it must be summarized (either in writing or verbally).