Communication has always been a crucial skill for entrepreneurs. It’s even more true in our current quarantine environment to keep employees, customers, investors, and others informed in a world that is rapidly changing, by the hour.
In particular, many of us will be pitching virtually for the first time - to sell to a customer, to get capital from an investor, to provide an update to your board, the list goes on.
Following are pro-tips on how to rethink your content from a Zoom training session, led by Michael Chad Hoeppner of GK Communications and hosted by NYU Tandon School’s Data Future Lab, on how to communicate effectively while pitching remotely.
- Let it go: You worked hard on your pitch, and it’s hard to let go of a deck/pitch/story you invested time and energy into. But, entrepreneurship is all about iteration, and that’s what you need to do with your pitch.
- Adjust to the new reality: Be honest about the new reality and adjust accordingly. Focus on the opportunities for your business throughout and/or on the other side of this event that’s affecting the entire world. Don’t dwell on what used to be - only what can be in the future.
Carly Chase, Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management; Managing Director, New York City Startup Studio, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship
This article builds on content developed by the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship for MIT's Orbit Knowledgebase and is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.