Have you ever though: “I’ll get good at presenting once I’m in a leadership role?” If so, you’re not alone. I’ve heard that a lot! Unfortunately, presenting isn’t just for ‘later.’ It’s for right now. Waiting until you’re senior to build presentation skills is like waiting until you run a marathon to break in your new trainers. By the time you’re presenting to execs, clients, or whole departments, you’ll wish you’d practiced sooner.
Climb With Confidence
Whether you’re early in your career or rising steadily through the ranks, you’re going to need to speak up. In meetings, on projects, to clients and to colleagues who don’t do what you do. And when that moment comes: when all eyes (and awkward Teams cameras) are on you. What will matter isn’t your job title; it’s whether you can communicate with clarity and confidence. That doesn’t magically happen with a promotion. It happens with practice.
Why It Pays to Start Now
- You’ll stand out: Clear communicators get noticed.
- You’ll build trust: People follow those who express ideas well.
- You’ll grow faster: Strong speakers often get more opportunities.
- You’ll feel ready: When the big moment arrives, you won’t panic, you’ll perform.
No one expects you to be perfect right away, but if you start small now: sharing updates in team meetings, and presenting in low-stakes settings, you’ll build real muscle. And real confidence. Then, by the time you’re asked to speak on stage or pitch to leadership, you’ll feel like you belong there. Because you do.
What Great Presenters Do Differently
- They don’t wait until they’re ‘senior.’
- They treat presenting as a core skill, not a nice-to-have.
- They put in the reps, get feedback and learn what works (and what doesn’t).
And over time, they stop dreading presentations, and start using them to drive their careers forward.