What do you do if your confidence wavers while presenting in front of others?

It is always acceptable to ask for a pause mid-presentation and is necessary to maintain a positive climate with your audience. I have done this in a few presentations by inviting the group or audience to take a quick break, utilize the facilities, or catch some fresh air. Doing this de-escalates any boredom or faltering engagement and allowed me to unload distractions and browse my notes for anything I may have missed.

A short pause, look at the audience, smile, and sense the confidence building up inside you. Remember, you can take this moment to gather your thoughts and continue with your presentation.

When your confidence wavers during a presentation, pausing briefly can be an effective remedy. Take a moment to pause and breathe deeply to calm your nerves and refocus. Glance at your notes or slides if needed, and use this short break to collect your thoughts. As you resume, do so with a smile and maintain a measured pace. This approach not only helps you appear more confident but also gives you better control over your delivery. Make eye contact with your audience to reconnect and draw strength from their engagement, which can help boost your confidence as you proceed.

When your confidence starts to slip during a presentation, it’s always helpful to have your notes handy. If you feel a bit shaky, just take a quick pause and look them over. This can remind you of your next points and help you gather your thoughts. A deep breath in this moment can also work wonders to settle those nerves. Then, as you dive back in, lean on your notes to bolster your confidence. It’s like having a friend up there with you, nudging you along. Smile, make eye contact with your audience, and you’ll feel that connection—and your confidence—start to rebuild as you continue.

I use notes regularly, especially when conducting presentations or speaking in a team setting. This allows me to have a visual representation of the topics I want to discuss, as well as answers to any possible questions my audience may have. If any topics or questions arise that I do not have immediate answers for, I am able to write them down for future discussion.

I liked having bulletpoints for the key things I want to share during a presentation (or a presentation deck). That allows me to have something to refer to/practice with .

When you’re giving a presentation and start to feel your confidence wane, remember that your notes are incredibly useful. A quick glance at them can help stabilize your thoughts and keep you on track. But there’s another critical tool that can really make or break your presentation: positive, uplifting self-talk. In those moments when you feel overwhelmed, take a brief pause to look over your notes and simultaneously engage in some encouraging self-talk. Remind yourself, "I can do this," "I’m well-prepared and knowledgeable," or "I have valuable insights to share." This isn’t just casual reassurance; it’s a powerful technique that can significantly transform your mindset from one of anxiety to one of confidence.

Aside from extensive preparation beforehand, I would remind myself that I am presenting the subject matter because I am knowledgeable to it. I use that knowledge as positive reinforcement throughout all presentations, no matter the audience size. Supportive self-talk is not an easy skill for most to master as it is often associated with arrogance. I would regularly tell myself "Stand in what you bring to the table" and move forward.

I like to walk around a stage/room to speak to all of the audience. As a New Yorker, I use my hands when I talk to make certain points so that helps to convey certain emotions.

Body language is directly related to your ability to communicate effectively in a group setting. I love what I do as a profession, and it shows in the way I carry myself and how I engage with others. This resonates with my audience, sparks curiosity, and encourages conversation. I adopted the philosophy of short but regular eye contact while communicating. Staring makes others uncomfortable, while looking around often shows lack of engagement or respect. It is important to remain self-aware at all times and requires regular practice.

When setting up any presentation, I would draw a clear outline of the following: What is my topic Why is it important Who am I trying to speak to What is the desired outcome While most of my presentations were not restricted to time for calls to action, I did encourage feedback and constructive criticism. Doing this regularly increased my chances for success and set me up for increased confidence with future presentations.

I'd recommend leaning into that feeling and being a human. Soak in moments that make us all connected. The 100% confident speaker is outdated. If there's a situation that makes you vulnerable, it's a learning opportunity that should you have the courage to share, might even be an enhanced introduction to whatever you're presenting. It's worth reflecting on how power can be imbalanced and having authenticity in imperfection can help bring topics closer to those that may feel distant from the topic.

One technique that really helps me is to always have a visual image of a thought-provoking artwork to hand, which illustrates an aspect of the topic/ issue in focus, that can be shown to momentarily divert attention away from yourself and give you a chance to pause until you regain your composure and recover your train of thought. In the digital age, it is possible to pre-prepare a PowerPoint slide of an artwork or photographic stimulus to put on screen, or share a website URL that audience members can link to via smartphones/tablets, and then say, "I'm just going to pause for you to take a look at this image, as a way for us to approach the issue from a different angle." The picture can then be used to catalyze discussion and feedback.