Nailing Your Next Presentation
It’s a sunny Wednesday afternoon and I’ve just left a really productive client meeting, my phone buzzes. It’s a voice note from a former client.
She’s just been asked to present at her department’s regional review. A big opportunity. But she sounds panicked.
“I feel sick. Like, physically sick. What if I freeze? What if I forget my words? What if they think I’m not ready for this role?”
This fear is far more common than most people admit. In fact, the number of highly competent professionals I’ve worked with who dread public speaking could fill a stadium. And I completely understand it, because I’ve been there too.
So, why does public speaking feel so terrifying?
It’s not because we’re bad at it. It’s because no one ever really teaches us how to do it well. We’re handed a slide deck and told, “You’ve got this!” when actually, most of us are thinking: I don’t even know where to look or how to start.
But the truth is, confident communication isn’t a gift. It’s a skill. And like any skill, it can be learnt, practised and mastered.
The moment that changed everything for me…
My turning point came years ago during a client presentation in Canary Wharf. I was under-prepared, over-caffeinated and certain I was going to embarrass myself. My hands were shaking so much I could barely hold the clicker. Then someone in the front row smiled, and something clicked.
I stopped trying to perform and started having a conversation. I let go of the pressure to sound clever and instead focused on being clear and genuine. That moment changed everything.
How do you build that kind of confidence?
Let me break it down.
1. Nail your opening line
Don’t start with a bland “Hi, my name is…” Open with impact. A stat. A question. A relatable thought. Hook your audience in the first 15 seconds.
2. Practise out loud (not just in your head)
You wouldn’t run a race without warming up, right? Rehearse like it’s real. Use your phone to record yourself. Notice your tone, pauses and pace.
3. Power pose and breathe
Before you speak, take a moment. Plant your feet. Roll your shoulders back. Do a 4-7-8 breath (inhale 4, hold 7, exhale 8). It works.
4. Know your key points, not a script
The goal isn’t to sound memorised. It’s to sound natural. Have 3 to 5 anchor points you come back to. Let it flow like a conversation.
5. Remember, no one knows your nerves
What feels huge inside your head is almost always invisible to others. People aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for presence.
What I tell every client before a big talk:
You are not there to impress. You’re there to connect.
And when you lead with clarity, presence and purpose, you will be remembered. Not just for what you said, but for how you made them feel.
Your voice is your power
Whether you're presenting to five people or fifty, your voice can shift a room. The goal isn’t to be the loudest. It’s to be the clearest, the calmest and the most grounded. That’s what true confidence looks like.
If public speaking is your Achilles’ heel, I’d love to help.
We cover this in one-to-one coaching sessions, building your message, your delivery and your confidence. When you speak well, you move forward faster. People listen. Doors open.
