Fear of Presenting? How to Give a Great Presentation at Work

Summary

In this video, a communications coach shares valuable insights on improving presentation skills using the acronym 'PRESENT.' The guide focuses on seven key areas: Presence (developing stage presence), Revelation (providing valuable insights), Energy (engaging the audience with enthusiasm), Service (putting the audience's needs first), Engaging (promoting participation), Novelty (offering new perspectives), and Truth (speaking authentically). By following these steps, professionals can deliver impactful presentations that connect with their audience, motivate action, and establish trust. The coach offers further coaching opportunities for those committed to refining their skills and leadership presence.

Takeaways

• 😀 Develop a strong stage presence by being self-aware and confident, focusing on how you show up, both physically and energetically, when presenting.
• 😀 The greatest asset of any presentation is the audience. Always ensure your content aims to reveal something valuable that resonates with your audience's need for transformation.
• 😀 Keep your presentation focused and concise, limiting the scope to deliverables and ensuring the content meets the intended outcome for the audience.
• 😀 Bring multiple types of energy to the room, including learning energy to motivate action, fun energy to maintain engagement, safe energy to create a non-vulnerable space, and buying energy when encouraging decisions.
• 😀 The focus should always be on serving the audience, not impressing them. Your intelligence and expertise are assumed, so use your presentation to benefit the audience and help them achieve their goals.
• 😀 Engaging your audience through active participation helps internalize content and creates momentum. Don't just lecture—encourage participation to make the learning process active.
• 😀 Novelty is key in presentations—either present new information or offer fresh perspectives on familiar topics to keep your audience engaged and provide value they haven't experienced before.
• 😀 Ground your presentation in truth. Authenticity and sincerity resonate with the audience, making them more likely to trust you and your message.
• 😀 The best way to speak the truth is to speak from your truth, staying consistent with your values and principles. This establishes credibility and makes your message more impactful.
• 😀 A successful presenter doesn't perform for approval but serves to provide meaningful insights, transformations, and solutions for the audience's challenges.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the video?

The main goal of the video is to provide a step-by-step guide on how to improve presentation skills, using the acronym 'PRESENT' to outline key strategies.

Why is 'presence' important in a presentation?

'Presence' is important because it involves how you physically and energetically show up when presenting. It's about having the right body language, energy, and connection with the audience.

What does 'stage presence' mean and how can it be developed?

Stage presence means the ability to command attention and engage the audience through your physical and emotional energy. It can be developed by becoming more self-aware and understanding how you stand, move, and interact with the audience.

What is the difference between being overly self-aware and overly other people-aware?

Being overly self-aware means being too focused on your own actions or appearance, which can hinder your stage presence. On the other hand, being overly other people-aware means focusing too much on how others perceive you, rather than on delivering your message confidently.

How does 'revelation' play a role in a presentation?

Revelation is about offering your audience new insights or perspectives that prompt them to want to listen and engage. It helps to make the presentation more impactful by aligning it with their desire for transformation or change.

What are the four types of energy a presenter should bring to the room?

The four types of energy a presenter should bring are: learning energy (to promote action and engagement), fun energy (enthusiasm and lightness), safe energy (creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable), and buying energy (encouraging the audience to make decisions or take action).

Why is it important to focus on serving your audience in a presentation?

Focusing on serving your audience shifts the focus from impressing them to providing value. It ensures that your expertise is put to good use by addressing their needs and helping them achieve their goals.

How does engaging the audience contribute to a successful presentation?

Engaging the audience helps them internalize the content by encouraging participation. When people participate, they are more likely to remember and act on the information presented, making the presentation more effective.

What is the role of 'novelty' in a presentation?

Novelty in a presentation means offering new ideas or perspectives that the audience has not heard before, or presenting familiar ideas in a fresh way. This keeps the content interesting and memorable.

What does 'truth' mean in the context of a presentation?

Truth in a presentation means speaking authentically and genuinely. It involves grounding your content and actions in honesty and transparency, which helps build trust with the audience.

How can a presenter ensure their message is grounded in truth?

A presenter can ensure their message is grounded in truth by being authentic, aligning their actions with their words, and avoiding the need to impress others. This approach fosters trust and makes the presentation more impactful.