3 Hacks to Master Your Presentation Skills
It’s true: I, Phil Pallen, used to despise public speaking.
Once upon a time, a young boy was asked to give a speech on any topic of his choosing. He decided to speak on narwhals—the unicorn of the sea—and carefully prepared his presentation. On the big day, the young boy dropped his cue cards in front of his classmates, forgot what he was going to say, picked up his cards out of order, blundered through his talk, and decided he hated public speaking.
But what if I told you that the young boy ended up confronting his fear, mastered his speaking gigs, and now gets paid four-figure sums to give talks around the world? Better yet, what if I told you that the young boy was me?
Yes, it’s true: I, Phil Pallen, used to despise public speaking. Now, despite my traumatizing childhood event, I’m a keynote speaker who loves the stage. I’m here to tell you that your disdain for all things keynote doesn’t need to be a life sentence. In fact, with a few quick adjustments, you can dramatically improve your presentation skills, earn the respect of your peers, and utilize speaking as a way to get what you want out of life. (More on that later.)
Here are my three hacks for improving your presentation skills right now:
Frame your presentation in a way that serves you.
You might be the speaker, but you don’t have to be Albert Einstein. If you have the mic, you get to decide what you talk about (within reason, of course). My favorite way to take charge is by framing my presentation to the audience right away so they know what we’re covering so there’s no room for being caught off guard.
My recommendation? At the beginning of your presentation, say what you’re going to talk about, and at the end of the presentation, remind your audience of what you covered. It eliminates “off-topic” questions while also reiterating the value of your presentation.
Communicate one thought per sentence.
As a former hater of all things presenting, I know how easy it can be to get in your head when you have the floor. Further, I know how tempting it can be to ramble in an effort to communicate value, even when the end result is an indiscernible hodgepodge of information.
If you find yourself tripping over your words, remember to communicate one idea per sentence. You’ll be forced to slow down (which is a good thing), be concise, and ultimately deliver a more digestible message with every sentence.
Remember that your performative self is different from your actual self.
When I first started getting into public speaking, I decided to embrace a charming persona of confidence. It helps. Start listening to TED Talks and pick up on things you like about certain speakers. Then, when it comes time to deliver your speech, embody that speaker. By wearing the hat of someone else, your talk will feel less “personal,” which helps take off the pressure.
Those three hacks are immediate wins that you can implement today. However, I also urge you to consider that skills can’t be mastered overnight. Just like running a marathon, you’ve got to train to become a better speaker. Practice by recording yourself and pick up on what you like. Listen to your presentation afterward and make note of what worked and what needs improvement.
The more you master your presentation skills, the better for you. Your confidence will earn the trust of your peers. You’ll get referrals to give more talks and ultimately expand your network. You’ll be able to make sales of your choosing by closing your talk with a call to action. Take my word for it: Speaking has the potential to change your life and positively alter your brand. (Just stay away from cue cards if you can.)
