Presentation Prep 101
Uh oh.
That huge presentation in front of the board?
Yeah, it’s coming up.
You know your stuff, but something about standing up and speaking in front of a group makes you want to jump out of your skin.
You want to prepare, you want to feel calm—but how do you actually do that? They didn’t cover this in grad school…
Many intelligent, educated, and competent women dreadpresentations. They know they’re smart, so what’s going on?
The reality is that most people don’t learn public speaking skills in school. And without a process in place, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by nerves and lose sight of what you want to say or why you want to say it.
That’s why I created a streamlined process to help you prepare to speak in public with confidence, authority, and authenticity.
School’s in session! Welcome to Presentation Prep 101.
Presentation Prep 101
This is a 4-step, tactical process designed for women preparing for an upcoming presentation. If you’re not sure how to “get in the zone” for the task at hand, these steps will help you prepare in a meaningful way so that you feel ready when the day of your presentation arrives.
Presentation Prep 101 can be tailored depending on your timeline; it could be a four-week process, or something you do in the course of a few hours. Ideally, you’ll want to use this tool 1-2 weeks before your presentation. If you’re prepping for a high-stakes presentation before the company board or for a big sales pitch with a potential client, you’ll want to give yourself more time.
Step #1: Think Through Your Why
These days, there are so many ways we can communicate information. A live presentation in a room (or over Zoom) can seem like an archaic format, but it’s still incredibly common.
As you consider your own presentation, ask yourself, “Why is this information being shared in real time by a person? What’s the opportunity here?”
Your answer will be unique to your situation, but it will necessarily include a human element. Despite all of our newfangled technology, there’s still value in connecting a human voice, face, and body to an idea. That’s the real power of being “in the room.” It’s an opportunity to bring your humanity quite literally to the table. Your voice and physical presence are incredible mechanisms for sharing information. Let that knowledge empower you.
Also consider the “why” behind the content. Why is what you’re sharing so important? What’s at stake, and why are you choosing to give this presentation?
These questions offer a chance for you to discover the values at the heart of what you’re doing. Once you’ve articulated why your presentation matters, you can return to those words and ideas to ground you if nerves creep in.
Step #2: Technical Preparation
Think through your talking points and write them down. If you’re using slides, clarify your presentation content. Establish the one thing you want people to walk away knowing or thinking about. Then, work backwards strategically to weave that idea throughout the presentation.
Even if you aren’t doing a Q&A session, think about the questions you could be asked. What would you hate if someone asked you? Think of the worst questions you can imagine, frame your responses, and write them down. This helps you get inside the content from different angles and break through the pattern of your own assumptions. And, if that worst-case-scenario question does come up, you have an answer ready to go.
Step #3: Rehearse
Yep, that’s right. Rehearse your presentation out loud; role play with a colleague; practice by yourself, in the car, in the shower, anywhere. Speaking the words out loud might feel strange, and most people really don’t want to do it, but it’s super helpful.
I can sense you thinking, “I don’t actually have to rehearse out loud—I’ll just do it in my head.” Speaking out loud is non negotiable. You just.have.to.do.it.
Speaking out loud gives you a chance to work out the kinks that are guaranteed to be there. We tend to minimize the importance of transitions, so rehearsing keeps you attuned to everything you’re responsible for saying. Practice the small talk before you launch into the presentation. Practice the thank yous and graceful exit at the end. Maybe that slide doesn’t connect as seamlessly to the next as you thought. Maybe your talking points too closely mirror your slides. Every presentation will need a little tweaking, and rehearsing out loud is the best way to discover and fix those issues before the big day.
You might also find it helpful to write a full script. You don’t need to memorize it, but the process of writing out the presentation is a great compliment to a full rehearsal.
Make sure you address any technical aspects during your rehearsal process. You’ll want to do at least one “dress rehearsal,” that’s as close to the real circumstances as possible. Wear the outfit you plan to wear and try to use the room you’ll be presenting in. In the online realm, figure out your background and lighting situation. Test things out with a friend for input. Do your earpods always freak out at the worst times? Find a different solution. If you don’t have access to those exact elements, visualize the conditions and keep them in mind as you conduct your dress rehearsal.
Step #4: The E.X.P.O.S.E. Tool
On the day of the presentation, use the E.X.P.O.S.E. Tool to connect with yourself and calm any jitters. Even when you’ve done all the preparation work, it can still feel daunting to “just be yourself” when you’re being watched or evaluated. This tool helps you show up as the most confident, authentic version of yourself.
Presentations can be nerve-wracking, but this preparation process will get you ready to embrace the power of your unique voice and presence.
With love and respect,
Malika
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