Nervous about giving a tour/talk to someone important at work on Friday ... not my normal thing ... please help!

[HesitantHost]

This isn't really an "employment issue", in that work is fine and my employer is great - but I couldn't find a more suitable board to post on.

I work for a big charity, and am normally holed away in a corner writing and researching, which is what I'm happiest doing - and do well. Although I get on really well with my colleagues and we have a good laugh, I'm not great at formal interpersonal stuff, especially with "important"/senior people. And it's rare I have to do this sort of thing anyway.

But on Friday, with pretty much everyone else out of the office, I am going to be welcoming an important visitor to the charity, giving her a tour and a talk, and trying to sell our work - and generally sound knowledgeable and impressive. I'm half excited by the challenge, and half dreading it! I'm worried she'll see through my bluffing; that I'll get tongue-tied and stammer, or forget what to say about certain aspects of the organisation. And I really don't want to f*ck it up.

So please, anyone who does this sort of thing easily, and/or loves it, and/or has had to train themselves to be confident with schmoozing important people within a work context ... please help!

I've had colleagues brief me on how they conduct a tour. I've made notes. I've planned the structure of the visit and notified the visitor of the schedule. I've tried to make it interesting and compelling ... but I'm still worried about being a nervous wreck and ballsing it up. A donation to the charity is at stake, so I really want to get it right.

Any top tips on keeping calm and being professional would be fab. Thank you.

[ChocolateCoveredChitChat]

You seem to have done all of the correct preparation. The only thing missing would be a practice of the tour itself. Why not ask one of your colleagues (a kind one) if you could practice on them? Actually running through it will make it much easier on the day.

Also, just remember to keep your speech at a slower speed. It is very easy to talk too fast when you're nervous.

[Grevling]

Just practice it a few times with a colleague standing in and remember no matter how important this visitor is she still wipes her own arse - so she's not really any different from you or me.

[HesitantHost]

Thank you both. I'm not in work today, but have brought my tour notes home to practise.

Liking the "talk slowly" and "bum wiping" thoughts. :)

[Soopermum1]

I'm a pretty experienced tour guide for executives

Try to build up rapport before you kick off with the formal stuff. it will put you both at ease where you'll feel more relaxed and she'll be more forgiving of any gaffs you make if she views you as likeable. If you think it's apropriate it may be worth admitting you're nervous.

Also, are you passionate about the stuff you'll be talking about? It can be hard with the daily grind etc, but if you are passionate about the subject, try to bring this to the presentation. The words will flow a lot better and you'll be much more convincing.

Remember, it's not so much what you say, but how you say it, both verbally and in your body language.

[Simic]

I had to give a presentation a few years ago for a charity I was working for and I found what worked the best was just to keep in mind WHAT it is your charity does (or your department) and why you think it's so good.

The person isn't as important as the work you do.

Doing the important work is your goal - and if this person might be able to help you (financially or whatever) then remember that they will also just be serving the goal. You say you have to sell the work - just imagine you're explaining to a good friend why it is that you are so convinced.
I can remember with my presentation (it wasn't a tour, just a presentation), I ended up doing no powerpoint presentation or anything. I didn't even stand up. When it came to my presentation, I just stayed sat down at the round table with everyone else (I had eye contact with everyone) and just explained my project to them very simply, what we were doing and why.
Whilst all other presentations had been all singing all dancing, I received comments that my "presentation" had been one of the most convincing. I agree with Soopermum1 that it's your own passion and conviction that sells it!