4 Tips to Deliver a Great Presentation (to 5 or 500 People)

When you think about giving a great presentation, you might get butterflies in your stomach. Or maybe you’ve always believed you’re just not good at this. Or you might be feeling unsure about how to deliver a successful online presentation.

Here’s a secret: Even with all the presenting I do—I regularly give keynote speeches—I still get nervous. It’s totally normal to feel this way. It means you care about what you’re doing!

Try these tips the next time you’re about to speak:

1.     Flip the Script

Whenever you feel fear, tell yourself “I am excited.” This tricks your brain into receiving all those butterflies in a different way than it does when you feel true fight or flight fear. Let’s face it, you can’t suppress those feelings, but you can channel them into something more positive.

Professor Alison Brooks at Harvard did a research study to randomly assign people about to present to tell themselves “I am calm” or “I am excited” just before they spoke. The word “excited” was sufficient to significantly alter the quality of their speeches. When participants labeled their emotions as excitement, their speeches were rated as 17% more persuasive and 15% more confident than those who branded themselves calm. Believe in possibility and that good things can happen—like the presentation you’re about to give. Get excited!

2.     Prepare in Advance

This one seems obvious, but I’ve also been known to procrastinate preparing as a way of avoiding my discomfort with it. However, the more you know your topic (this doesn’t mean you have to memorize it), the more comfortable you’ll be.

Hopefully, it’s also a topic that resonates with you, because this energy will come through when you talk. If not, I suggest finding at least one thing that’s motivating or relatable about what you’re presenting. When you’re drafting your remarks, focus on stories more than statistics to bring your topic to life.

3.     Focus On Your Audience

Whether you’re giving an update at an all-hands meeting, presenting to the board, or at a paid speaking gig, your role there is to serve others. Research has shown that when you focus on generosity and kindness, it reduces the fight or flight response. Think through who will be in the audience and what they need from you. Have one person in mind and talk to them. This is your chance to give them what they need, whether that’s information or inspiration.

4.     Stay In the Moment

It can be easy to get ahead of yourself when you’re hoping a presentation will be over soon, but you’ll miss all the fun! Scan the audience, catch someone’s eye, notice the space you’re in, and remember these details. Celebrate your progress that you’ve come this far. 

As we get back to speaking live again, these tips will apply then, too, so bookmark this for the future. 

Keep in mind: People remember how your presentation made them feel and what it inspired them to do. Share your story and, most importantly, show others what’s possible for themselves—this is the spark that will continue long after your talk.