Last week, one of my senior-level clients said, completely deadpan: “I’m just not cut out for presenting. I could never do it well, let alone enjoy it.” I replied: “Anyone can learn to deliver a great presentation – and feel comfortable doing it – with the right mindset and a few key skills.”
Her response? “Impossible!”
That got me thinking: this reaction isn’t rare. Presentations feel so high-stakes, so exposed, so daunting, that many people assume they’re just inherently bad at them. And honestly? I get it. I used to be one of those people. Once upon a time, I’d have rather jumped off a 50-foot cliff than stand in front of a small group with a clicker and a smile.
But the truth is: presenting isn’t some magical talent. It’s a skill. Just like riding a bike, giving feedback, or skiing; it can be learned. And the more you do it, the less it makes your soul want to exit your body.
In fact, if you stick with it long enough, you might even find you love it. (And if you’re really lucky like me, by overcoming your biggest fear, you might uncover your biggest passion, and turn it into your career!)
The Fear Factor
Too many professionals treat presentations like dental appointments: unpleasant, stressful, and something to be endured. They focus on just surviving, getting through their script and not tripping over the cables. But that’s not the point. If your audience isn’t engaged… if they don’t take anything meaningful away… if they’re not thinking, “I want to work with that person,” then it doesn’t matter that you deliver within your time limit and used the brand fonts correctly.
Why It Matters
Here’s the inconvenient truth: presenting is everywhere in leadership: pitches, project updates, strategy rollouts, team meetings. If you’re not helping your team build this skill, you’re holding them (and you) back. But many people avoid presenting altogether, or just ‘wing it.’ And because they don’t practice, they stay uncomfortable. And because they’re uncomfortable, they avoid it. And around we go on the anxiety carousel.
As Einstein famously said (probably after sitting through a meeting with a 138-slides and no message): “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.”
The Good News
Anyone can become a great presenter. I know this because I’ve helped hundreds of people over the last 20 years feel more confident about presenting, and become confident presenters. I’ve worked with terrified team leads, anxious analysts, and even one man who tried to open his talk with: “I know this is a boring subject, but…” (We had a word.) Every single one of them improved. Dramatically.
Want Your Team to Deliver Like Pros?
If you’re an L&D professional or manager looking to elevate your team’s presentation skills, I’ve got just the course for you. The Powerful Presenter: Craft and Deliver Talks that Resonate. It gives you or your team the skills they need to confidently deliver engaging, effective presentations.