Chapter 12: Delivering Professional Presentations

Author: Lisa Marie Coppoletta

Award winning actress and producer Viola Davis says her “greatest strength” is her “authenticity,” as she admits her “anxiety level goes up” each time she fails to be true to herself (News Chant, 2020, para. 1).

Professional Presence And Confidence

Some individuals are naturally gifted public speakers, while others experience extreme anxiety before a presentation. Regardless of our perception of our comfort level in public speaking, all people have the potential to become exceptional public speakers. Being true to ourselves is being adequately prepared and then finding enjoyment delivering the presentation, allowing our individual authentic personalities to shine during the performance.

Approaching public speaking in professional environments should not differ from other physical performances, such as athletics, the visual arts, theater, or music. Preparation and routine practice create exceptional public speaking performances. Understanding the principles of creating and performing a speech ensures that you connect with your audience, effectively communicating your message.

You should anticipate many opportunities to speak in front of groups in the workplace. Sales presentations, for example, afford speakers the golden opportunity to pitch services or products. Using effective communication skills can strengthen relationships with customers. In your future career, you may want to achieve the goal of closing the sale while also creating a lasting business relationship. Another example is public speaking is in the realm of politics. Public policy speeches allow the opportunity to create positive change. Our knowledge and authenticity as speakers make us memorable to the audience. Regardless of the context in which a speech is given, we can each be an agent of change.

In this chapter we’ll discuss guidelines for preparing and delivering professional presentations of various types. You will learn how personality characteristics can present both obstacles and opportunities for public speaking confidence. We will also outline rehearsal strategies for strategic preparation, and take a look at the impact of verbal and nonverbal elements of speech delivery. Finally, you will learn specific preparation techniques for multiple formats including live and virtual presentations.