Tuesday Tuneup- #60
Mastering big presentations
Last week, I had to deliver a major presentation in front of a large audience….. and like most people, speaking in front of large groups isn’t exactly a skill I was born with.
Even with years of experience, I’ll be honest: the nerves showed up. They always do.
But here’s one thing I’ve learned over the years that has helped me power through….preparation beats fear.
The more I refined my process, the more confident I felt getting in front of some large numbers and today, I have a much easier time handling the task than in years past.
If the idea of speaking in front of a full room sounds daunting, you’re not alone.
Today, I’m sharing 5 practical tips that helped me nail it, and that can help you, too, the next time you need to speak to a group (whether it's a team meeting or a keynote stage).
1. Build Your Presentation for Clarity, Not Complexity
The best presentations don’t overload the audience with information.
They guide them.
When preparing your slides, aim for:
Bullet points, not paragraphs. Each slide should highlight 2–4 key ideas maximum.
Visual simplicity. Use clean visuals or simple charts. Avoid cluttered backgrounds and heavy text blocks.
One main idea per slide. If you have two ideas fighting for attention, break it into two slides.
Use animations, to break up your talking points into bite sized pieces. Your slides should briefly highlight the words coming out of your mouth.
Remember: your slides are there to support you, not replace you.
2. Practice Your Talk Track….. Out Loud
One of the biggest mistakes people make is "practicing" in their head.
Big presentations demand muscle memory and you just can’t fake it.
Here’s a process that works:
Record yourself delivering the presentation.
Listen back critically. Notice where you ramble, rush, or lose energy.
Refine weak spots. Adjust your wording, tighten your points, and practice again.
It’s uncomfortable at first. But listening to yourself objectively is how you turn a good talk into a great one. Even if your presentation is virtual, doing a couple walk throughs on Loom will help you see areas you need help. It will also help you make sure you are hitting your time slots. Nothing is worse than realizing you have 60 minutes worth of content, but only a 30 minute slot to deliver it in.
Pro tip: even one or two full run-throughs out loud will put you ahead of 90% of presenters.
3. Nail Your Opening, It Sets the Tone
I spent extra time scripting and practicing my first 60 seconds, more than any other part.
Why? Because your opening locks in both your own confidence and the audience’s trust.
Make your opening:
Strong and energetic
Centered on a clear "why"… why should they care?
Easy enough to deliver even if you’re a little nervous
If you can walk in knowing exactly how you’re going to start, everything else flows easier.
Try this, instead of trying to write down your intro, just open up a voice recorder and start talking. Ask questions that inspire interest, or make statements that challenge traditional thinking. Then, go back and listen to the recording to see what landed well and what didn’t.
4. Slow Down… Especially When You’re Nervous
When adrenaline kicks in, most people speed up without realizing it.
It feels natural to rush through to "get it over with" but it undermines your message.
A trick I used: pause intentionally between major points.
It feels longer in your head than it does to the audience…. but those pauses make you seem thoughtful, confident, and in control.
Another trick it to repeat the most impactful points to make sure they really hit home….
Again….
Repeat….. the most impactful points…. to make sure…… they really…. hit…. home.
Bonus: Pauses give your listeners time to absorb what you’re saying.
5. Focus on Service, Not Performance
Finally, the biggest mindset shift: it’s not about you.
It’s about what the audience needs to hear.
Before stepping up, I reminded myself:
"If even one person leaves with a helpful insight, this will be a win."
Take the pressure off being perfect. Focus on making a connection.
This Week’s Challenge
If you have an important meeting, pitch, or even a casual presentation coming up, try this:
Record yourself delivering one key message. Listen back once, refine it, and then deliver it again.
Small reps = big gains.
And if you’re already prepping for a big talk, I’m cheering you on. You’re going to be great, because you’re going to prepare to be great.
PS- Just a reminder that sometimes we can be our own hardest critics and we’ll make a big deal over things that nobody else REALLY cares about. On the other hand, we all say things that make sense to us…. that nobody else understands. Don’t be afraid to share your recording with a couple people you can trust and that can give you feedback. Making sure your message is received by others is really the goal at the end of the day.