Perfecting Your Presentation Skills: A Coach's Guide to Captivating Audiences

The communications team at Forefront Coaching have years of experience in theatre, film and television. One of the most important takeaways from classical theatre training is an appreciation for the full toolkit an actor has at their disposal. Not every technique is necessary for every play and, often, beginning a rehearsal process without a clear set agenda or approach is the very key to a great performance.

A WATCHABLE QUALITY

Within all of us exists something deserving of attention. A communications coach will help you bring that to the surface. You can command a stage without demanding the attention of an audience by building your confidence and translating through purposeful movement and intention.

In acting, each character has an intention, and objectives that drive their every move. By crafting a performance around these objectives and intentions the play gains momentum, shown practically through the actors movements. A common failing of a confused, or unconfident performer is a constant forward and backward movement as they stagger across the stage and back without clear, intentional motion. The mark of a good play is one that could be understood by a non-native speaking audience - with storytelling shown through precise movement and intention.

Focused, intentional movement gives you the opportunity to command the stage and create synergy with your message. Within your presentation or funding pitch, there should be clear and distinct moments when you move with confidence in a way that underlines the value of what you are saying rather than distracting from your words.

If you are confident and clear with what you are saying, your words will resonate. To give your presentation maximum impact, your movement and demeanour should be a harmonious reflection of your words.

VALUE YOUR PLACE ON STAGE

You should be firm and approachable. Don’t forget to breathe and smile. You are delivering this pitch because you have something of value to offer your audience and you needn’t apologise for your presence through tone of voice or body language.

We often give away subconscious messages by shying away; folding our arms or keeping our hands in our pockets. Audiences will pick up on this and, if you don’t think you deserve to be the focus of everyone’s attention, any audience will quickly agree with you. Finding confidence in open body language that welcomes the crowd is all part of your communications growth with a presentation coach.

Anchoring yourself to set movements that highlight the best of your presentation will give your pitch a dynamic shape that holds the attention of the audience.

RAISE YOUR VOICE

There are numerous techniques our team will use to develop your voice; there are practical and physical exercises you can do to lift your voice and deliver a confident presentation, but these may occasionally be rooted in mental blocks that challenge your confidence. No singular approach will work for all, and sometimes you will need to work on various physical and intellectual exercises to unlock your full potential.

Each person’s journey towards a presentation will be different. For some, it may be a journey of energising the performance; finding ways to lift your voice and bring a heightened movement to your performance, for others, it may be finding ways to tone down an excess of energy, and slow the pitch down to find clarity.

PREPARE FOR THE UNKNOWN

You will be in the best position to deliver your message if you have a strong foundation to your pitch but especially if you have fluency with your message that allows you to adapt in the moment.

Rather than giving yourself a strict script to which you must adhere, it can be helpful to build your presentation with clear path markers to follow. This allows you to break out from your set dialogue and return safely to your key points. Thinking of your pitch as structured chaos grants you the freedom to diversify and adapt your message to any audience whilst retaining the vital elements of your story.

WATCH YOUR TONE

Often the quickest way to gain the attention of your audience is the use of humour. You needn’t turn your presentation into a tight five minute stand-up set, but injecting moments of levity can break the ice and help your audience to relax. The use of jokes shouldn’t undermine the serious intent of your message, instead they allow for the audience to break their silence during your pitch. Comedy brings us together and unites an audience; keeping people engaged and keen to listen.

Pacing your tone, and plotting the performance elements of your pitch will give you a structure you can be confident with. Finding the right tone for your message is equally as important as crafting the message itself.

Not all performance techniques are appropriate for all messages, and working with a communications coach allows you the freedom to find the right performance tools and presentation skills to best serve your message and elevate your communication style.