FROM STAGE FRIGHT TO SPOTLIGHT: 4 Essential interview and presentation skills

I recently got back from Seoul, Korea, where I had the incredible opportunity to attend the MyEO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization) Global Women’s Summit.

Picture this: nearly 100 amazing women from over 17 countries, in an intimate, personal and professional growth event, all gathered to learn, inspire, and connect. As a mother and business owner, I was juggling end-of-financial-year tasks and new year planning, so it didn’t feel like the best time to be on the other side of the world.

That being said, the experience was nothing short of transformative and a great reminder of why taking time out of your daily life and business routine is sometimes the best thing you can do to give yourself, those around you and your business a fresh and energised perspective.

The summit included a diverse range of speakers who provided some great, practical takeaways when it came to delivering exceptional presentations. Whether you’re presenting to an audience, doing an interview, or pitching your business to potential clients or investors, here are some key learnings for you to consider:

The art and importance of storytelling

Storytelling is a magical tool for connecting with your audience. People love to hear personal stories; the ups and downs, the human side of things.

When you start with a story, you let your audience in on who you are. A few examples include the moment you conceived your business idea, a pivotal event in your entrepreneurial journey, or a customer interaction that really highlights the impact of your work.

Once you’ve gone down the path of opening up and sharing it’s likely the response you receive will either be a “yes, I know exactly what you mean” or an “a-ha, hmmmm” moment that triggers something for your listener and helps you create a more meaningful connection. In the past I would often focus on sharing how my career began and where I worked before I launched my first business. However, over time I have learnt that while this is interesting people are far more captivated by the story of what motivated me to start my various businesses, how I went about it and what the journey has been like since, including the wins, the challenges and the failures.

Keep your presentation simple and impactful

Don’t overload your presentation or interview with information. The human attention span is pretty short, between 8-12 seconds, so you need to capture attention quickly and keep it. Focus on delivering the most crucial points clearly and concisely. Reflect on what’s essential and resist the urge to include every detail. Simplifying your message makes it more memorable and impactful. When it comes to interviews, try to keep it to 3-4 sentences at a time, pause and take your cues on the next step from the person interviewing you. If you’re presenting to an audience, think about this when preparing your slide deck. It should be a blend of interesting images and short quotes rather than too many words or statistics. You want the audience to be learning from you, not just squinting at the screen. If you’re worried you might forget some key information, include some simple prompts on your slides or capture it on a few palm cards to help you out. Which leads me to the next point…

Framework and preparation

A well-structured and rehearsed presentation is key. Even the most seamless and engaging presentations come from careful preparation and practice. Think of every memorable talk or impactful presentation you’ve seen—they all have a framework that guides the flow of information and ensures clarity. If you’re feeling uncertain or nervous about media interviews or public speaking, find someone you can practice in front of to get some constructive feedback.

Something I highly recommend for anyone preparing for a presentation or interview is to invest in some media training. Just like top athletes and performers rely on coaches, you can benefit from professional coaching to enhance your presentation skills.

Physical presence and audience engagement

Your physical presence speaks volumes. First impressions matter, and how you present yourself can reinforce your message. You don’t need to be super formal or wear designer clothes, but you should present yourself in a way that aligns with your personal style, brand, and message. Consider your posture, eye contact, hand gestures, and overall demeanour. These non-verbal cues can boost your credibility and make you appear more confident and engaging.

If you’re in the hot seat for a recorded interview or podcast, dress in something that is comfortable and doesn’t crumple easily, and remember that posture is particularly important. If you’re delivering a presentation, think about how you can use the room to your advantage.

At the MyEO Women Summit, several speakers saw the value in moving beyond the stage for their presentation. By expanding their physical space to work the room, the audience remained engaged and interested in what they were saying. Timing comes into play here as well, with significant points in their presentation highlighted as they moved through the crowd.

Others invited members of the audience up on stage for a fun and interactive activity. Both proved to be truly engaging and helped make those presentations highly memorable.

Whether you’re speaking at an event, giving an interview, or pitching to potential clients or investors, if you stay focused on embracing storytelling, keeping messages simple and impactful, and preparing thoroughly, you can master the art of effective communication.

This article first appeared via Kochies Business Builders here where I have a monthly column sharing strategies and tips for entrepreneurs, business leaders and high growth ambitious brands, on how to win when it comes to public relations, personal brand, becoming a thought leader and helping your brand stand out.

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