Matt was not happy.
He was stepping in for a business partner to give a presentation at a leadership forum on his area of expertise — wills and succession planning.
But I could see it. He was spiralling into anxiety before my eyes.
“Matt,” I said, “Are you any good at your job?”
His head snapped up, and he looked at me calmly and said, “Yes, I am.”
“Great. Pretend I’m a client. What would you tell me?”
He started talking — confidently, eloquently.
Boom. That’s how I wanted him to deliver it.
“We’re not calling this a presentation.”
“We’re not calling this a presentation,” I said. “It’s a chat. Imagine the audience is a client. Speak to them one-on-one. Explain why an effective will and succession plan matters.”
Then I asked, “Do you have a story? A case study? Something that shows what happens when people don’t take your advice?”
He did. And it was perfect.
Here are the takeaways
1. Get out of your head
Nerves are normal. But when you focus on the audience and the value you bring, you shift from:
“Does my bum look big in this?”
to
“Hey, I’m helping people here.”
2. Reframe your presentation
Most of us had been traumatised by standing up in front of the class at school show and tell.
You need to reframe your thoughts. Think of your presentation as a fireside chat or advice you’d give to a friend or client.
3. Use a case study
Stories showcase your experience. They relax you, engage your audience, and make your message stick.
What happened next
I was in the audience when Matt presented.
He did a cracker job. The case study landed beautifully. The audience leaned in, soaking up everything he had to say.
And I was especially gratified when people came up to him afterwards to ask for his card.
The best presenters deliver a chat; all you need to do is amplify yourself for the stage.
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