Are you giving presentations at work, but don’t feel like they actually matter?

While preparing for a presentation, do you sit with your PowerPoint slides and start to wonder what it’s all for?

Are you mindlessly filling in a briefing template without another thought?

If so, I’m going to guess you’re feeling a bit stuck as a communicator at work.

It’s normal to feel a pinch of frustration when the results you’re dreaming of from your presenting just aren’t coming true.  Or when it feels like your effort isn’t very valuable.

You’ve been delivering the mail when asked to give presentations, but the big result you’re hoping for might still be out of reach. 

Here’s the thing: 

The culprit usually has nothing to do with your presentation abilities or your expertise on a particular topic.  Instead, it usually comes down to how you’re preparing to give a presentation which dramatically influences the final result.

We’re going to tackle the root causes that can sneakily sabotage the impact of your speaking and presenting and lay out some smart, actionable strategies to get you back on track. 

Together, we’ll transform your presentation preparation process, moving you from unmotivating talker to engaging speaking powerhouse.

Reason #1: Your Mindset is Flipped

When we’re feeling anxious or uncertain, we are biologically wired to focus inward.  To protect ourselves.

But, this is the least effective thing we can do for our audience.

The Real Issue:

While we prepare for a presentation, we’re usually alone.  Our audience is only imagined.  We prepare based on what we want.  What we think.  What we know and don’t know.  What types of information is persuasive to us.

You might not even realize you’re doing it.

But, your audience isn’t you.  Preparing this way will never get you as close as you want to the result from your presentation.

The Smart Fix:

Imagine your audience, create what they need.

Make sure you deeply understand who you are speaking to and what they need from your presentation.

• Are they trying to make a key programmatic decision?
• Are they deciding to make an investment?
• Are they trying to learn something new?

Make sure you prepare for your presentation with your audience’s needs in mind.  Craft your briefing slides and oral message around answering their questions, filling their needs, solving their problems.

Put yourself to the side. 

A few more things to keep in mind:

• Your presentation is created by you, but is for the audience.  Just like a gift is chosen by you for someone else.  Give a gift you’d like to receive.
• We listen less effectively than we read.  Repetition is your friend.
• Strong organization makes it easier for the audience to follow along.

You’d be surprised how much this small change alone can give you the results you and your audience need from your presentation.

Reason #2: Unclear focus

Vague goals produce mushy presentations. 

The Real Issue

Without very specific and narrow goals, it’s tough to align your arguments and evidence to meaningfully persuade the audience. This lack of focus can be frustrating to the audience and cause their attention to wane.  When they stop paying attention, they won’t be meaningfully influenced. 

The Smart Fix

Get specific about how you want your presentation to influence your audience. Instead of informing senior leadership about my program’s challenges, try positioning person ZYX to make an informed decision about how to manage the supplier delays we’re experiencing. 

Having a crystal-clear focus is the key to success in presenting. 

A few more things to keep in mind:

• Writing out your focus as you prepare will help you keep it front of mind.
• Consider how you can align the goal of your presentation with your audience’s relationship to the topic.
• Be explicit about the goal you’re trying to achieve in the presentation itself.

Reason #3: Lack of Compelling Evidence

In a “truthiness” world, credible and compelling evidence is more important than ever before.  Whether you are simply sharing information or delivering a persuasive appeal, high-quality and deeply relevant evidence is essential.

The Real Issue

Without crystal clear support for your claims and assertions, you won’t be able to move the needle on your audience’s pre-existing opinions and beliefs about the topic of your presentation. If you simply state claims without support, then you aren’t going to persuade anyone of anything. 

The Smart Fix

Support your claims! 

Not all evidence was created equal, however.  Be sure to thoroughly vet your information sources, whether in or out of your organization.  Ask critical questions of those providing you data and always, always share your sources. 

A few more things to keep in mind:

• Transparency is key to convincing others to change their minds.  There is no such thing as “secret” information.  Be open about where you got your supporting facts and data.
• Evidence can be misleading.  Be truthful about the intent of the data you share and don’t overstate what your evidence can support.
• The quality of your evidence reflects on you as a credible information source.  Use your power wisely.

Reason #4: Ho hum delivery

It’s easy to fall into a presenting rut. You might find yourself mostly reading from your slides or notes, instead of connecting with your virtual or in-person through eye contact, gestures, and using your vocal variety. 

Engaging delivery can be the difference between failure and success, especially in presentations where you’re asking your audience for a big change in opinion, or significant action.

The Real Issue

Without some energy in your presentation delivery, you’re attention limited audience will tune you out.  They can read slides.  They can research topics.  The benefit of giving a presentation in the first place is that the speaker and audience can connect on a human level as information is passed back and forth.

A lot of times, speakers fall back on reserved or unengaging delivery because they feel anxious.  Don’t let this hold you back – the moment is too important!

I’ve created a DIY course to help you learn to rethink your public speaking anxiety and to retrain your brain to think differently about public speaking.  If you suffer from public speaking anxiety – read more here!  

The Smart Fix

Focus on offering a genuine version of yourself to your audience.  Rather than overthinking what you should be doing with your body, practice simply being yourself. By implementing delivery that is genuine and authentic, your natural connection to your topic will emerge and ultimately draw your audience into you and your presentation. 

A few more things to keep in mind:

• Relax!  You are find as you are.  Keep reminding yourself of this straightforward but easily forgettable fact.
• Clear projection, a reasonable speaking rate, and meaningful eye contact are the most important elements of strong and compelling delivery.
• Practice makes perfect when it comes to delivery.  Stand up in front of that mirror and rehearse till you feel ready.

Reason #5: Misusing visual aids

It’s easy to get caught up in the big picture and forget the basics. 

You might be pouring energy into the minute details of your slides while neglecting to think about how they will play in front of the audience. This is where so many speakers go wrong.

The Real Issue

Your audience can read.  

If they can know everything about what you are going to say in your presentation from reading the slides, do them a favor.  Email them a copy and save their time.

Instead, the slides should be an attention-focusing tool highlighting key elements of your verbal message, which demonstrate content visually in a way you can’t replicate with words.

The Smart Fix:

Give your slides a thorough checkup to identify and fix any extra details.  Words on a slide should be succinct, short, and direct.  If you’re working with a specific template (which I often need to do), cut as many extra words as possible – always using bullet points rather than sentences. Focus on key takeaways and action steps rather than fine details.  

Cite your sources.  Include visuals that add to the verbal message rather than duplicating it.

A few more things to keep in mind:

• Review your slides for accessibility, especially if you will be sharing them with the audience after the presentation.
• Watch your colors, design, and font.  Slides should be readable from the back row.
• Don’t get fancy with too many embedded videos or fancy animations.  Simple is best.

Making it Happen

By pinpointing specific challenges you’re facing with your presenting or public speaking, you’re already halfway to overcoming them. 

There’s value in understanding not just what propels you forward but also what holds you back. It’s like peeking under the hood of your car: you’ve got to see the problem to fix it.

Remember, identifying the snags in your path is your strategy map. Now that you’re equipped with insights about what doesn’t work, you’re better positioned to make moves that do. It’s time to take these lessons and channel them into action.

The good news is, you don’t have to tackle these challenges alone.

As a public speaking coach and consultant with a proven track record of helping professionals, teams, and units like yours redefine how they approach regular briefings to both internal and external audiences. 

Here’s what I can do for you:

• Provide hands-on training to your team to refine their public speaking technique
• Engage with all members of your team 1:1 to work on the challenges they face as presenters
• Craft meaningful activities to practice relevant skills
• Identify areas of growth and improvement for presenters and audience members on the team
• Provide follow-on retainer-based support for all key briefings and presentations

Imagine what it would be like to finally see the impact you desire from the presentations your team delivers. With my help, you can stop struggling to reach audiences in a deep and meaningful way and start converting listeners to buyers and committed leaders. 

Are you ready to take your speaking to the next level?

Schedule a free call today to discuss your presentation goals and how I can help you achieve them.

Click here to get started!

P.S. Not quite ready? Get even more public speaking tips by joining my mailing list.  I’ll send you actionable strategies to help you present with more authority, impact, and ease. 

Everyone has a voice. Use yours by Presenting Well.