What do you do if your mentees lack confidence in their presentation skills?

Building trust is very fundamental in helping your mentees gain confidence. Start by highlighting their strengths and positive attributes as presenters. Encourage them by pointing out what they're doing well, whether it's clear communication, engaging storytelling, or effective use of visual aids.

Confidence is one of my favourite topics. The essential element of authentic influence in presenting. ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????. ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???? ????????????? I believe there are lights you can switch on in your mentees, by revealing insights into the theory and practice of confidence. Be the finger pointing at the moon by sharing your own vulnerable moments and how you grew. Explain that confidence is the reputation that you keep with yourself through the daily accrual of actions that match your words. Once the light is on in that little room, they can start to look around and find more switches and more rooms, until the whole inner presenting powerhouse is lit and shining.

Firstly, I would create a safe and encouraging environment where mentees feel comfortable sharing their concerns and vulnerabilities. Open dialogue helps uncover the root causes of their lack of confidence, whether it's a fear of public speaking, uncertainty about the content, or lack of preparation.

Additionally, I would emphasize the importance of preparation and rehearsal in building confidence. Helping mentees develop a systematic approach to preparing for presentations, including researching the topic thoroughly, creating engaging visuals, and rehearsing multiple times, instills a sense of preparedness and reduces anxiety.

Building trust with your mentees is crucial for fostering their confidence in their presentation skills. To show genuine interest in their concerns, ideas, and experiences during presentations and discussions.

I’ve been a huge fan of @Amy Cuddy research on body language underscores the importance of addressing fears related to presenting. I’ve shared this to my mentees that by identify specific anxieties, such as forgetting lines or fearing the audience's reaction, a mentor can empower them to confront these challenges directly. Normalizing nervousness and sharing strategies like deep breathing exercises align with Cuddy's findings on managing anxiety and projecting confidence through nonverbal cues. This approach acknowledges the problem, paving the way for effective fear management and presentation success.

While some mentees are able to articulate their fear, some would say just - "I am fearful that I will go blank". What could be done is to think of a specific event and walk through the thought processes from pre, during and post session.

It's helpful to have feedback based on their practise session and together with some associates or peers. This is to also simulate the environment of the actual delivery. Get the rest to also provide constructive feedback too.

As a leader of a support team I used to ask them to be involved in the MATERIAL PREPARATION for the presentation so that they could get familiar with the message to communicate. I also used to ask them to practice the presentations with the team. I used to make "suggestions" in a friendly way to correct or change something. Sometimes I used to be the member of the audience who always ask the questions.

I would give them constructive criticism on their areas of strength and weakness and offer helpful hints on content organisation, body language, and voice modulation in order to boost their confidence in their presenting abilities. Their confidence can be progressively increased by encouraging rehearsal sessions in a supportive setting and giving them the chance to present to smaller groups at first. Highlighting their accomplishments and growth along the road might also help them feel more confident in their skills.

Simplifying a subject requires understanding and confidence in the subject matter. Preparation and knowing the subject is the key.Based on the presentor understanding, simplifying the subject from the perspective of the audience will help boost confidence in one presentation. The key to good preparation, is not the slide. It's the time a person spends to really understand the subject and tries to simplify the subject in the required perspective and simulation of multiple perspectives. It's mainly in the mind of the presenter. Allow the audience to tap into the presenters though and experience.

Show them some best practices when it comes to effective use of simplification and deck. Sometimes, they might think that their points are already very simplified (according to their perspective). Offer suggestions and invite them to think from the perspective of the audience.

Thanks @Margo Purcell for the opportunity to learn about Amy Cuddy's research on "power poses" Amy demonstrates their efficacy in boosting confidence and performance. To effectively assist mentees in overcoming presentation fears, it's crucial to address specific anxieties they may have, such as forgetting lines or fearing the audience's reaction. By teaching mentees about the benefits of power poses and how they can positively influence their mindset and body language, mentors can empower them to manage anxiety and project confidence. This step acknowledges the fears mentees face and equips them with practical tools to conquer them, aligning with Cuddy's findings on the transformative power of nonverbal communication.

All cannot fit one size so it’s important to use a combination of methods or strategies to achieve a new outcome for different individuals one caters to. Multiple intelligence focuses on 8 aspects for enabling learning and acquiring of information - Logical Linguistic Naturalistic Kinaesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Musical Spatial Thus empowering the mentor and mentee to achieve teaching learning goals with an extra benefit of volunteering participation by mentee.

Celebrate progress, recognize effort. While the journey of improvement in presentation could be scary and lonely, it's essential to be their biggest fan!

When I train, I picture myself as a gardener nurturing delicate seedlings. Initially, they may wobble a bit, but with TLC (or tender loving coaching, as I call it), they'll grow into confident, presentation-savvy oak trees! Then, brighten those confidence clouds with some sunshine. Teach them to embrace their unique qualities and strengths. Divide your presentation into manageable steps, from crafting a compelling opening to wrapping up with a memorable conclusion. Practice diligently! With each rehearsal, you'll gain more confidence. For additional tips and tricks on mastering communication skills, don't forget to check out my podcast, "Communicate101: Speaking & Writing Tips." It's your resource to enhance communication skills!