It will always fascinate me how many individuals have this clear natural ability to speak freely and with utter confidence. Some have practiced for years to grow such social skills and to others, it is a natural characteristic of their personality and a gift at that. The idea of standing in front of an audience of people (where oftentimes, they are mostly strangers to you) and attempting to talk confidently about a certain subject can be stressful and unnerving. As a student, I always found that giving a presentation was one of the most anxiety inducing assignments. I often dreaded the date and yearned to get the presentation over with as quickly as possible. The pressures are far heftier if the presentation is for the purpose of an academic evaluation.

As part of my required course sequence, I was introduced to a course primarily focused on nurturing, building, and improving your communication skills in a business context. The main assignments in its curriculum were to provide weekly presentations in front of a live audience and with fixed topics. Initially, the entire course concept terrified me as I was not used to giving presentations and I often struggled with public speaking in general. There was not a single conceivable way out of this course and so, my only option was to face my nerves and deal with it. I still do feel these nerves when I am required to give a presentation, but I have learnt a few things that have helped me prepare, practice, and perform at my best. I configured these lessons according to what worked for me personally, and you may take these recommendations as lightly, solemnly, or seriously as you desire.

One of the most important realizations I had in building these abilities was that these presentations are a telling reflection of yourself. First, there’s the auditory aspect: the way you speak, the tone and volume of your voice, the passion in your speech. Secondly, there’s the body language: your posture, your stance, your hand gestures, your facial expressions, your body displacements, your overall composure. Thirdly, there’s the logical aspect: your choice of words, your flow of ideas, the logic, sense, and relevance of the subject. Fourthly, there is the superficial aspect: your appearance, your clothing choice, the neatness of your outfit. Finally, there’s your energy: your emotional expressions, your personality, your sociability, your attentiveness, your engagement. The commonality between every one of these factors is that they are all in your control and tailored to your own individuality. This leads me to my first lesson learnt:

Do not stress over things you cannot control. Here, I am largely referring to your audience. You cannot control the number of people in that room with you. You cannot control how a person looks at you, how a person feels about you, or how they choose to interact with your presentation. Speaking to people you are not familiar with can be anxiety provoking because you are concerned with their reaction towards you however, you cannot control this reaction. Let others be as they may and focus your mind and energy on yourself. Instead, address the things you can control and work with them.

1. Pretend everyone is your friend because they are certainly not your enemies. If you’re constantly and actively aware that you are standing in front of a group of strangers, it will be difficult to get comfortable and relax your nerves. I knew that there was no easier person to talk to than a friend, so I tried to imagine a room where all my friends were listening to me. Then, another friend would get up and give their presentation.
2. Familiarize yourself with the evaluating figure. This tip is specific to presentations in the context of school. I found it helpful to develop a relationship with the professor or teacher in charge of evaluating my performance. Getting to know them on a mere surface level gives an idea of their character. Being accustomed to informal communication settings and knowing the individual on a personal level will alleviate barriers and increase your comfort levels for your presentation.
3. Dress to impress. Although we love to believe that the world should not operate on superficial factors, the truth is that looks tend to matter greatly in certain contexts. You feel your best when you are comfortable in your attire and dressing in proper and professional clothes for your presentation displays a formal and credible first impression. Personal style as an indicator of one’s character and personality type. Honestly, my best presentations occurred when I wore my favorite vintage pantsuit.
4. Introduce your own creative elements. If you can, pick a topic that satisfies your interest. It is easier to openly, freely, and deeply discuss a topic that ignites your interests to begin with. If you cannot control the choice of topic, find a way to make the topic interesting or relate an aspect to your own interests. I found this to also be helpful with memorizing your presentation. Additionally, add your own creative touch to your presentation material; having visually appealing designs, using relevant images, as well as a clean and legible format. Of course, you must keep in mind the fine line between aesthetically pleasing designs and obnoxious overkill.
5. Educate yourself on the topic as much as you are capable. When you develop a profound comprehension of a particular subject, it is simpler to discuss and explain something you understand. Another important factor of this recommendation is that the greater the knowledge of details you have on a subject, the more prepared you are to confidently present the topic. This is because you will have done the necessary research to fulfill the validity of your points.
6. Do not compare your presentation. Comparison is the thief of joy, we all know this. When others are presenting before or after your turn, it is important to not compare their styles to yours. Everyone operates in their own unique ways and your presentation is especially tailored to your person. The quality of another person’s work is not an indicator of the quality of your work, it only reflects themselves. In the end, there is no secret formula in executing the perfect presentation. In many cases, anxiety and stress levels can be untameable and we all manage our nerves differently. These recommendations are statements of guidance that were specific to me as a current business school student. As I am still working on my communication and presentation skills, I strongly believe it is important to take advantage of the opportunities that allow you to improve these skills and make use of constructive criticism from others. Finally, make note of what's working for you or what has worked for you in the past so that you can return to messages you may have forgotten. Documenting progress helps you get a deeper understanding of yourself, visualize how far you've come, log your achievements, and foster your potential.