Your Guide to Confident Presenting 

 

  • Short checklist for students who are panicking or rushing

    • Take one deep breath in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, and then breathe out for 4 seconds

    • Read your introduction out loud (don’t try to memorize it)

    • Look up every few seconds to look at the room 

    • Avoid pacing and swaying 

    • End with one clear takeaway you want the audience to remember

  • Voice and Delivery

    • Speak slower than you think you need to (nerves speed you up)

    • Use intentional pauses to emphasize key points 

    • Vary your tone so your speech doesn’t sound stale

    Body Language

    • Use purposeful hand gestures to support your message 

    • Make eye contact with different parts of the room 

    • Keep your shoulder relaxed

    Presentation Structure

    • Strong hook: a question, statistic, story, or relatable moment 

    • 2-4 main points

    • Transitions: “Next, let's look at” or “Building on that idea.” 

    • Conclusions: summarize the big idea and leave your audience with a final thought

  • Practice strategy

    • Say your speech out loud 

    • Time yourself to ensure you are within the time limit

    • Bring water to drink before your presentation

    • Remember: nerves = adrenaline = energy. Use it.

    • Reading directly from your notes

    • Talking too fast or using filler words

    • Apologizing, “Sorry, I am nervous.”

    • Memorizing word-for-word (increases anxiety and makes you sound unnatural)