Presenting With Confidence

Whether you are a CEO managing teams of people, an employee looking to boost your career, or a freelancer pitching to important clients, one of the biggest challenges you face is getting your message across in the clearest form possible.

Delivering a presentation is stressful. Its stressful, it’s it’s nerve-racking and it’s scary. I feel as though I can say that with authority because over the years, I've given thousands of presentations. But guess what? I still feel that range of emotions every time.

So, how do I combat them and try my best to avoid stuttering and/or freezing on the spot.

Firstly, it’s all about preparation. Every presentation I give involves a lot of planning and preparation. I always find it useful to present in front of my colleagues beforehand, over and over again until I get it right (or until they can’t take it anymore). I find testing it out with an audience beforehand gives you time to implement any feedback they may have, which means you end up with a more polished end product.

A presentation needs to be engaging and enjoyable for your audience, that’s the most important thing. Nobody wants to sit and listen to something dull and monotonous.

When it comes to communication, I have always felt that the way in which you deliver your message is just as important as what you are actually trying to say.

In other words, you can come up with the most insightful and innovative thoughts but if you deliver them in an ineffective manner then it is likely that no one will take it in. To put it another way - if your content scores 7/10 and your delivery which scores 9/10, this can work a lot better than 9 for content and 7 for delivery.

 I always speak about the importance of research and preparation, but at the same time you cannot allow your entire manner to be dictated by your notes. I remember when I was first invited to give a speech; I had written everything down and practically read off my cards.

Someone I knew was sitting in the audience and afterwards they told me my presentation was boring. His words stung at first but I then saw another speaker at the same event - he was engaging, interactive and really drew people to him. His content was of a similar standard to mine but he was far more compelling. I realised then that I had to work on my own style - which shows that being a good communicator can be learnt. 'Practice makes perfect' may be a cliche but it is particularly true in this regard.

One of the key things to remember is steering clear of jargon. You can still convey difficult ideas and concepts by using straightforward and concise language. In my experience, jargon can be a comfort blanket to hide behind, rather than an effective way of communicating ideas. I always ask myself if anyone could understand the message I am trying to get across. If the answer is no then I would take another look at what I'm saying.

You also have to tailor your approach depending on the audience and format. For example, it may be inappropriate to be overly relaxed in an important pitch to the CEO of a client, but if you are presenting something to members of your own department you may be more laid back.

Thinking about what your message is and how you are delivering it can go a long way to becoming a successful communicator.

Good luck! Looking forward to hearing your success stories.