You're struggling with confidence in presentations. How can you harness your strengths to shine on stage?

In my experience, building confidence in presentations starts with playing to your strengths. One thing I've found helpful is focusing on the areas where you naturally excel, whether it's storytelling, deep product knowledge, or engaging with the audience. Practicing these strengths allows you to feel more at ease on stage. I also remind myself that the audience is there to learn from what I know. By channeling that expertise into the presentation, I can shift the focus from my nerves to delivering value, which boosts my confidence and helps me shine.

1. Know your content 2. Practice, Practice and practice 3. Write down the bullet points. 4. Refer to the slides and do not read out. 5. Know your audience. 6. Take a pause and interact with the content consumer. 7. Practice infront of the mirror. 8. Confidence comes with practice if it is not in-built. 9. Answer according to the need. 10. If not prepared with and answer excuse and move on and politely say you would look into the answer and let them know. Don't be scared.

First and foremost - it's very important that if one is struggling from self confidence issues and low self esteem, they identify the root cause of it. It could be a language barrier or on a macro level - constant criticism (not constructive) from people we hold on a pedestal Second- identify a peer or a connection who can mentor us and boost our confidence little by little Third- Research! Research! Research! If we know our sh*t we will be able to present better Fourth - Use our individuality to our advantage - it could be humour, our aesthetics etc Fifth - Keep the audience engaged - don't just recite verbatim - (again research helps here) Last but not the least- Try to have fun with the topic.

Two things very important in my view: - know the subject. - Plan it. The deeper you go into the 2 points above, the more confident you become. Now, thinking about yourself as a presenter, you need to know your profile. In other words, what are your skills, your strengths and weaknesses in the context of a presentation. This way you can take advantage of them during the planning or avoid some threats. Bonus tip: count on a colleague to check the data/test your presentation. It is always very valuable!! Hopefully it helps!! :)

Ensure you fully understand the content of your presentation. Confidence comes from knowing your material and planning well. Rather than memorizing it word for word, create an outline of key points that tell a story, and expand on the topic based on your subject knowledge. Storytelling makes it easier to maintain a clear flow from introduction to conclusion. It also ensures that you remain on track of the conversation and avoid irrelevant points. Finally, always anticipate questions from the audience and prepare responses. It's okay to say, "I'll get back to you," where necessary, rather than giving an inaccurate answer. This keeps you in control of the presentation and helps you to maintain credibility.

Confidence can come from experience and knowing your content. If you have a big presentation coming up and you are struggling with confidence the best way to overcome that is through practice. Practice the presentation to yourself. Practice in front of your family and friends. Practice out loud and practice a lot. George Carlin said that he never added a new joke to his set until he had practiced it and said it out loud at least 50 times. I imagine that a lot of those times when he said it out loud he made small tweaks that made the joke even better. Record yourself and listen to what you're saying. Make adjustments as you go. If you practice your presentation at least 20 times, I think you will be amazed at the difference you will see.

Focus on topics where you’re most knowledgeable. When you know your material inside and out, it’s easier to feel confident. Prepare thoroughly so you can anticipate questions and speak with authority. And also highlight your unique skills identifying and emphasizing your strengths, whether it’s storytelling, data analysis, or visual design. Use these skills to create a presentation that plays to your strengths, making you feel more confident and comfortable.

I find that having a really clear outline and flow to any presentation or talk is crucial. Ideally, you'd only have pointers or the 'bridges' between topics written down to prompt you. Never read your speech; it's much better to speak it naturally, even if you do go off course a little more!

For me I don't feel shy or bad to fail ..I keep going with my instinct and keep trying when you try and fail you really learn..it's all about the experience you gain by helping yourself rather than getting helped by others you will start believing yourself you will gain confidence and the time you succeed you will know the real value of happiness and joy.. that's the reason I do till I get till perfection and when I get there it will be never forgotten by me coz it's the hard earned lesson with my own effort ..it is the most valuable and it's worth it..

One powerful way to enhance your presentations is by using visual aids. Well-designed slides, infographics, or videos can help reinforce your message and keep the audience engaged. They serve as a supportive tool that allows you to focus more on delivering your content rather than memorizing every detail. Additionally, practice is key. Rehearsing in front of a trusted friend or mentor can help you refine your delivery and receive constructive feedback. Remember, confidence often comes from preparation.

Thorough preparation and having your key points ready boosts confidence. It's important to know your audience, structure your content, and practice extensively. You can channel nervous energy into enthusiasm and use breathing exercises and positive self-talk. Focus on the message and its value rather than on personal performance.

No matter how your content is very useful, without visual aids like diagrams, photos, or videos you won't attract your audiences' attention. Actually you have to consider the learning concepts of individuals in your presentation & that your presentation is fully covering all the audiences' learning pathways. Accordingly, you have to add all media formats to cover all the audience which you don't know their learning concepts. Also this diversity gives your presentation an exciting tone avoiding any doredom & distraction moments.

You can also leverage the presenter notes, not to write down your script and some bullet points and specific details you want to provide during your talk. That way you don’t have to put them on the slides themselves.

El llevar alun tipo de apoyo ayuda bastante, tanto para explicar lo qe se dice o para ayudar a entenderlo. Imágenes, gráficos, son muy importantes en las presentaciones de la mayoría de los temas

Engagement truly is a two-way street. I love to create a dynamic atmosphere by asking questions and using interactive elements that invite my audience to participate. Making it fun with music, breaking the ice, and allowing them to share their stories turns a presentation into a conversation. When the audience is involved, it not only keeps the energy high but also shifts the focus from just delivering information to creating a shared experience. By being clear in my asks and encouraging interaction, I can connect more deeply and adapt to the room, making the presentation more memorable for everyone.

One thing I have found helpful when presenting is that engaging your audience helps to calm your nerves and build confidence. Look into the faces of your audience, inject moderate humor, use your hands etc. All these creates a relaxed atmosphere.

Interestingly i have seen few presentations where presenters are lacking the knowledge, vision and direction but still harnessing their presentation successfully on the concept of attendee's engagement. In the most ideal case you should have complete knowledge of what you are delivering, Audience will stick to you without any extra effort. While being in a presentation, ever you feel down and out remember your strengths and keep maneuvering around those 'you will gain your confidence back'

One thing which is useful is to start with an astounding fact and ask questions around it in start of presentation which helps to engage the audience from starting.

It's always important to mention that the questions that engage the most are the ones where the public can't answer with a simple yes or no. So, make sure to think of the questions beforehand and give the audience time and space to think before they share their answers, if needed.

When presenting, using body language effectively can make a big difference, especially if you lack confidence. Intentional gestures, such as open palms or standing upright, convey a sense of authority and approachability, making you appear more self-assured and captivating to your audience. Furthermore, maintaining eye contact encourages trust and provides immediate feedback to help you adjust your delivery for greater impact. By practicing these techniques, you can transform your next presentation into a powerful and memorable experience, highlighting your strengths even when feeling nervous.

I started my public speaking journey as a shy, non-English-speaking "foreigner" in Singapore. This means that I had numerous barriers to overcome. I used body language not only to communicate with the audience but also to remember the speeches in English. I synchronized the speech with my posture, gestures, facial expressions, and emotions. It was like building muscle memory before you actually got on stage and started your presentation or even gave a keynote speech. With sufficient preparations, you do not need to worry about the confidence. Get on the stage and just get into your genius zone.

Body language is a crucial element of delivering an effective presentation. Your facial expressions and posture can significantly influence how your audience perceives your confidence. If you appear unsure or lack confidence, your audience is less likely to trust you, regardless of how accurate your information may be. Therefore, it's essential to maintain a calm demeanor, stand up straight, make eye contact, and offer a genuine smile. Use appropriate gestures to emphasize your points. Essentially, even if you don’t feel confident, acting confidently can help you gain the trust of your audience. This not only improves your presentation skills but can also help boost your own confidence over time.

Know yourself and your key strengths. And then use those to engage the audience. I think what plays a crucial role in engaging the audience is your body language and eye contact. I have seen presentations where the speaker was able to hold the attention of the audience not really through visual aids but by acknowledging the audience presence through active listening, responding to audience comments and remarks, open body language and yes - a little sense of humor that goes a long way!

Practice visualization before going in stage. One visualization technique, I use often is closing my eyes and taking deep breath, visualizing a place where you feel comfortable and safe in that place I visualize a chest and inside the chest there is the key message of my presentation pictured as an object or as a shining ball of light. Whenever I am anxious, I try to connect to that calming image, and it instantly brings down nervousness.

One of the best ways to feel confident while presenting is to do a proper rehearsal which should be exactly the way you would present in the actual presentation, which means - keep a check on: ? Time duration ? Voice Modulation ? Fumbles, if any. Accordingly, rectify for the final presentation.

It is true that 'Practice makes things perfect' . This is not only a quote but a gamechanger . If you rehearse or practice a lot before your presentation then you can give your presentation confidently. ? Discover tongue twisters or sections that could use more dramatic pauses and for getting a clear voice . ? Record yourself first and then see which places you need to improve in your Communication. ? Make good eye contact and improve your body language. ? Take the help of your relative or close friend who can give you relevant feedback.

This is the most important step in your presentation. From my previous experiences & presentations, I had oftenly done modifications on my presentations after the rehearsal of it either in the presentation content or in my performance for it. This is very crucial to guarantee your presentation success & the maximum content delivery to your audiences.

Besides rehearsing beforehand and using all the props you are planning to use on the official presentation, I also suggest recording yourself on that rehearsal. One of the things that catches the audience's attention and not a lot of people talk about are the mannerisms like repeated or over-the-top gestures, walking towards the same direction, etc. Recording and watching yourself to check for anything that might steal your public's attention is very helpful.

From my point of view, rehearsing presentation is critical to build confidence and clarity. As my audience mostly consists of investors and analystsv, they always expect concise, well-delivered information. Practice ensures me to stay on point, anticipate tough questions, and refine your tone, balancing optimism with realism. It also helps simplify complex financial jargon for a broader audience, while improving my body language and pacing. A well-practiced delivery inspires trust, reduces reliance on notes, and allows for smoother interactions during Q&A sessions.