Why a Convincing Presentation Is Simple — But Not Easy
Sometimes, as a presentation skills trainer, you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. I experienced one of those moments last week.
What started with one Ph.D. student making a small shift in how she presented, quickly turned into a chain reaction — and a powerful lesson in convincing presentation.
What happened?
It started with one Ph.D. student, daring to embrace the experiment and feeling confident enough to let go and trust upon her skill. This in turn inspired another student, to do the same. With another brilliant presentation as a result.
This led to very interesting insights and the pennies dropped like crazy. Like one domino stone falling over the other.
How did this start?
Kate gave a very convincing presentation. Sharing the information in a very engaging yet professional manner.
Her presentation a week earlier had been rushed and restless. She was then quickly scanning her notes, going back to the screen, then quickly to notes again and at the same time rushing through.
Instead of watching a tennis match now, seeing Kate going back and forth, she was now focussed and really sharing the information in a powerful, professional and convincing manner.
The recipe?
“I just decided to focus on the audience and leave the crib sheet” she said.
This in turn, had its effect on the following student, Sarah. She, also decided to present in her own words, leaving, for the most part, her crib sheet aside. She trusted herself, she could tell her story.
Again, we were amazed. She was so connected to her presentation; it was such a joy to watch and so convincing at the same time. She truly embodied her story. This was true mastery.
After the presentation, Sarah exclaimed. “This felt so much more comfortable.” “I thought if Kate does it, leaving her crib sheet behind, I will try it as well”.
This sound so simple to do, leave the crib sheet (for the most part), trust you know the story and focus on your audience, sharing it. The secret of masterful presenting! And on top of that, it feels so much better!
THEN WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR MOST OF US TO DO THIS?
Because we have to let go! And letting go is difficult! We have to trust and trusting can be difficult!
As Sarah had put it. “I think it has to do with our work as Ph.D. students. We want to be perfect and we do not want to forget anything or say the wrong thing.”
So, as a consequence most people hold on too tight to their crib sheet or PowerPoint and do not want to let go. Like holding sand too tightly in our hands.
We are so afraid the sand will be lost, so we keep it real tight.
Unfortunately, what we fear will happen. No connection with our audience, not connected to our story, no convincing presence. The sand will just seep through our hands, by keeping it too tightly.
On the other hand, when we have more trust, and we keep the sand more loosely in our hands. We will be surprised to discover that it will remain in our hands. And that it takes much less effort than before, when we were holding it so tight!
And this is exactly what Sarah experienced. “It feels much more comfortable!”
Want to present more convincingly and with more ease?
Understanding this is one thing. Letting go and trusting yourself while presenting is something else.
If you want to learn how to present with more confidence, connection and impact — and rely less on notes — 1:1 coaching will help you make that shift in practice.