Most leaders think being a skilled presenter simply means speaking with more confidence.

Confidence is a result—not a requirement—of strong presentation skills.

Being able to present and speak effectively, to be clear and inspiring, to bring people along and include them, and to move people to action are core leadership competencies.

Presentation Coaching helps leaders develop and strengthen the three discrete skill sets that are the bedrock of a masterful presenting:

• Structuring and Writing (what is being presented)
• Platform Skills (how it is delivered)
• Audience Engagement (to whom).

Leaders interested in building presentation skills typically have a specific goal or event to prepare for, such as:

• Presenting to the Board or other key stakeholders
• Speaking at staff meetings, town hall sessions, and conferences
• Selling to prospective customers
• Pitching to potential investors
• Conveying technical information to non-technical audiences
• Presenting in English when it’s not their native language

Presentation Coaching typically begins with a self-assessment of the leader’s existing presentation skills, to help the leader and coach identify strengths and opportunities for growth.  This assessment, paired with the leader’s goals, informs the focus and content of the coaching, to most effectively help the leader build the key skills of masterful delivery:

• Structuring and Writing Delivery is critical, but without a clear, concise and concrete message, leaders will fail to make an impact in their presentations. Coaching helps speakers establish a purpose for the presentation and craft a message specific to that purpose.
• Platform Skills Building platform skills helps leaders overcome anxiety, eliminate distracting mannerisms that get in the way of effective delivery, and broadcast to the audience how they should feel about them and their message.
• Audience Engagement The most effective and impactful presentations feel more like a dialogue than a monologue. A speaker’s ability to establish credibility and build connection with their audience is critical to motivating the audience toward a desired outcome—and determines whether a presentation is truly successful.

The best presenters rely on more than a confident tone, mountains of data, or a polished slide deck. To deliver messages with the greatest impact, speakers need to understand their own purpose and goals, and how to present their message in a way that engages and inspires their audience in support of those goals.