Pitching your idea is valuable tool to seek support, funding and validation while gathering opinions from a diverse group of people to ensure your ideas are appealing and useful. It also helps you gather advice as a means of improving what you have been working on.
Brainstorm and determine your idea to help better balance the needs of people and nature. You will first pitch your idea and then ask for feedback on the pitch to help make it more effective.
You will want to bring together a diverse group of people by select representatives that are reflective of the different stakeholders involved in the issue you are approaching. Think outside of your classroom!
How to Focus Group
- Begin with thanking the participants, state the goal of the group and ask that only constructive criticism should be contributed.
- Introduce your vision for finding a better balance between people and nature.
- Stay on topic.
- Keep notes or record the session.
- Ask that if anyone has comments they wish to keep anonymous to deposit questions into a box without leaving their name.
- Ensure that everyone is being respectful and respected throughout the conversation.
- Try to gather people from different age groups and backgrounds to ensure there are a variety of diverse opinions.
- Don’t be offended – remember that the people are there to help make you successful.
- If you want to re-ask a question because you want to hear more, try rephrasing it.
- Stick to your vision and only take the advice that you see fits with your concepts. There is helpful help as well as unhelpful help.
- Make sure you thank everyone for attending and for their help.
- After the group, write down what you have discovered and which advice you would like to take.
Focus Group Details
Date:
Time:
Duration:
Place:
Participants:
Questions to ask participants:
Sample Questions to Ask:
- What are your thoughts about my idea?
- Do you think my idea is clear and will be effective?
- Do you like the concept I am going for? If not, why?
- Have you seen anyone doing this already? If so, is this idea different enough?
- What would you do differently?
- What is your favourite part about this idea?
- Is the pitch clear?
- Do you think the means of creating a better balance is impactful?
- How could the idea be mores successful?
- If I were to approach someone for funding, or a job, do you think I would get it?
Effective Presentations & Pitches
- Show your passion and knowledge
- Start with an attention grabbing delivery (eg. a shocking fact, surprising insight, a story, etc.)
- Keep it simple – what is the key message that you want to get across?
- Smile and make eye contact to build a connection
- Be a storyteller, the audience will engage more and remember your points
- Use visuals to help tell your story and explain your issue
- Practice with a strong voice, and in front of peers, a mirror, family members, test it while hiking, video yourself presenting
- Use your body – make gestures, move around if at all possible
- Engage your audience – pose a question, ask for opinions
- If you aren’t sure how to answer a question from the audience, acknowledge it and state that you don’t have the answer, but will look more into it. Actually get back to them when you find out.
- Relax and breathe
If you are using presentation aids:
- Ensure the text is clear
- Pictures, graphs and charts are easy to read
- Be consistent with a readable font and colouring
- Keep it neutral
- Avoid too much animation
- Don’t read off of the aid – expand on the text to your audience
Resources:
Top Tips for Effective Presentations
10 ways to improve your presentation skills
How to Give a Killer Presentation