Summary
There’s no harder time to motivate your team and generate enthusiasm than after the new year break. Whether you’re delivering kick-off meetings, presenting new strategies at the office, or simply want to improve your presentation skills, feeling awkward during presentations or pitches can be a significant barrier to success. Advanced presentation skills are crucial for overcoming this awkwardness and delivering your message with confidence and clarity. This article offers practical tips to help you transform from feeling awkward to becoming a compelling and confident presenter.
Tell a Story to Make Your Point Memorable
Stories have been used for thousands of years to convey information, teach lessons, and entertain. In business communication, storytelling is an underutilised technique that can engage your audience and motivate them to action. Research from the Stanford Graduate School of Business found that stories are up to 22 times more memorable than facts and figures alone.
Incorporating storytelling into your presentations helps you connect with your audience on a personal level, making your message more relatable and impactful. When you feel awkward during presentations, telling a story can help you focus on the narrative, reducing self-consciousness and increasing your confidence.
Tip: Watch TED Talks and observe how speakers use stories. Notice how these stories make you feel and how they reinforce the speaker’s message. Think about how you can incorporate similar techniques into your own presentations.
Use Slides as Visual Aids, Not Crutches
Visual aids like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi can enhance your presentation by reinforcing key points and making complex information easier to understand. However, relying too heavily on slides can detract from your message and make you feel less confident. Remember, you are the leader of the meeting, not the slide deck.
Slides should support your presentation with images, videos, or key messages that make a quick impact. Keep them simple and focused on the points you want to emphasise. When you shift the focus from the slides to your communication, you’ll feel more in control and less awkward during your presentation.
Tip: Practice your presentation with minimal reliance on slides. This will help you stay engaged with your audience and deliver a more natural and confident presentation.
Move Around to Feel Relaxed and Confident
The way you move during a presentation can significantly impact how you feel and how your audience perceives you. The PAVERS® methodology, which includes elements like Physiology and Energy, highlights the importance of your physical presence in the space.
Moving around the room, using gestures, and making eye contact can help you feel more relaxed and in control. These physical actions not only enhance your presence but also boost your confidence, reducing feelings of awkwardness. By focusing on your body language, you can shift your energy away from internal doubts and toward engaging your audience.
Tip: Watch your favourite presenters and observe how they use their space and body language. Practice these techniques to improve your comfort and confidence.
Interact with Your Audience to Build a Connection
One of the best ways to overcome awkwardness during presentations is to interact with your audience. Engaging your audience through questions, polls, or even digital interactions can turn a one-sided presentation into a dynamic dialogue. This interaction builds a connection and makes you feel more comfortable, as it shifts the focus from just you to a shared experience.
For example, posing a question to your audience and inviting responses—either verbally or through a digital platform—can break the ice and create a more relaxed atmosphere. This engagement helps you gauge your audience’s reactions and adjust your presentation accordingly, making you feel more confident and less awkward.
Tip: Start your presentation with a question or poll to immediately engage your audience and set a positive, interactive tone.
Plan, Prepare, and Practice
Advanced presentation skills require thorough planning and preparation. Knowing your content inside and out will make you feel more confident and less likely to stumble during your presentation. Structure your presentation with a clear overarching concept, key principles, and supporting details (CPD) to ensure that your message is coherent and impactful.
Practice is key to reducing awkwardness. The more you rehearse, the more familiar you become with your material, and the less nervous you’ll feel. Practice in an environment as close to the real presentation setting as possible to prepare for any surprises on the day.
Tip: Use tools like Virtual Reality Practice Rooms to simulate real-world presentation scenarios. This practice can help you feel more prepared and confident when it’s time to present.
Conclusion
Feeling awkward during presentations is a common experience, but with the right strategies, you can overcome these challenges and become a more confident and effective presenter. By telling stories, using slides wisely, moving around, interacting with your audience, and thoroughly preparing, you can transform your presentation skills and deliver pitches with poise and impact.
These advanced presentation skills will not only help you feel less awkward but also position you as a strong leader who can inspire and motivate your team. If you want to learn more about effective leadership and presentation techniques, don’t miss out on our Mastering Communication program.
