(photo: Michał Niedzielski)
fine print: The title should really say: 10 Reasons why you (think you) suck at presentations
Reason #10: I want to be myself when presenting
Let’s face it – few of us get born into presentations. We walk and talk first, take care of our basic needs before somebody pushes us onto the stage and forces to deliver. Presentations are not natural: they are an exaggeration of what we really are. They are theatrical, stage versions of who we are.
Think of the stage exaggeration as of the shoes you are wearing. I am pretty sure you have a selection of them for different tasks and different weather. It’s not like you are losing yourself while wearing any of them?
Simple way to Level Up:
So you want to be yourself when presenting? Stick to certain concepts that connect the STAGE YOU to EVERYDAY YOU.
- Your values: what you believe in,
- Your sense of humor: I’ll come back to it in some other post, generally, don’t try too hard to be funnier than you are,
- Your personality: if you are an introvert, stick to it; if you are an extrovert, stick to it; both can do great presentations.
Everything else is the tool in your hands – flex it, use it, be creative. By sticking to your big guns, your audience will experience the integrity of you and your presentation.