You want to promote your business or organisation, so that you can be more successful. A genius idea pops up amongst the brain trust over a few drinks after work – why don’t we enter the Business Awards? Someone has to win don’t they, so the odds are fair. Anyway, there is no downside is there? True but there can be, if you don’t fully think this through. I don’t mean the requirement for polishing the application or assembling the data in support of the claims being made. I am talking about seizing defeat from the jaws of victory on the winner’s dais.
When you win, you are invited up on to stage. The cameras are rolling, the lights are flooding the arena and the music is pumping. You are pumping too, baby. It quickly occurs to you that hammering the booze on the table to instill some bonhomie amongst the troops was a good idea at the time, but now you need to pull yourself together. You fight your way to the stage, negotiating your way through the labyrinth of socially distanced round tables.
Before you know it, you and the team have assembled on stage to receive the ovation from the crowd. In a moment, the MC announces you are about to be handed the cool looking trophy from the key VIP guest of the evening. The crowd now goes quiet as you draw up to the stand microphone of the stage grasping the prize in your hand. A thousand eyes are fixed on you, awaiting your acceptance speech. You fluff it.
A ragged series of ums and ahs are punctuated by disoriented rambling highlighting no cohesion of thoughts, concepts or ideas. You are now sweating bullets. Multiple beads of perspiration start to run down your face, your pulse is surging, you realize this is a disaster and mentally start looking for the exit.
Thanks to you, all the tuxedoed dandies present have enjoyed their modern day Colosseum bread and circuses moment. Once the victim has been disposed of by public humiliation, everyone just returns to their table chatter. You are not forgotten though. You are now outed as an incompetent, who can’t string three words together. Your tenuous reputation is shredded and the trophy somehow feels less weighty and magnificent in your grasp.
You recall having seen this before haven’t you. Underprepared speakers making a complete hash of it. Don’t try and wing it. Think ahead and be properly tooled up. There are some key basics you cannot neglect. Under no circumstances mention you are nervous to the audience, even if you worry you are about to pass out and faint. Fall full flat out on your face, but don’t apologise for your lack of preparation for this speech. Don’t begin by bringing up your totally bereft skill set in giving speeches. The audience can see that for themselves. Don’t try to make nervous jokes to release the tension you are feeling in the moment. You are clearly pathetic, not funny.
Begin where you should. Thank the chief VIP, the Chamber or Business Association and the judges for awarding you this magnificent trophy and great honour. Congratulate your vanquished opponents with great generosity extolling their virtues and achievements. Next take this opportunity to promote your organisation. That is why you applied in the first place isn’t it? Give them your thoroughly rehearsed and well constructed elevator pitch on why what you do is vital to mankind and the future of the universe. This needs to be tight, taut, terrific with no fluff.
When you thank the people who have made this happen in the team, make a short personal remark about each. Taro who stayed late so many nights, catching the last train home to get the project completed on time. Megumi for her total dedication to the care of the clients. Daisuke for his rousing leadership of the sales team when things looked grim. Mari and her team of angels in the back office who somehow managed to hold the whole thing together through thick and thin.
Finally, thank your family and friends who have supported you. If you become emotional at this point, don’t worry, whip out your handy hanky, wipe your eyes and just keep going. We will love you for it.
Wrap it all up with a rousing call to action for the crowd. Encourage them to play a bigger game and maximise their potential here in this wonderful, exciting special country of Japan. Thank the organisers once again, wave the trophy high while moving away from the microphone stand, to signal you have finished. Now quietly call the team together to join you and the VIP, as you all pose for the photographers with the trophy. Then get off the stage, order the champagne, you are done!
Before the event you need to prep yourself. Think through the award presentation component of the evening. Thoroughly prepare what you want to say, rehearse it many times, time it to make sure it isn’t too long. One final piece of advice is to stay off the booze, until you actually win. Good luck!
