Three Hacks to Prevent Presentations 'Awkward'
- Victoria Hogg
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
Hi there, good people. Oh, sorry - were you speaking? My bad! How awkward!
Feeling awkward when public speaking is not necessarily a sign that you’re bad at it. It can often simply mean that you’re highly aware of yourself, your audience, and the pressure of the moment. The good news? With a few practical shifts, that ‘awkward’ can be softened.
Step 1. Focus on serving, not performing. When you make the talk about helping your audience understand one useful idea, you stop monitoring yourself so harshly.
Step 2. Rehearse your opening out loud until it feels natural. The first 30 seconds are often the most fragile. A practiced opening gives you a calm runway, helping your voice settle and your body catch up with your intention. Relaaax.
TED curator Chris Anderson says: “There is no set formula; no two talks should be the same. The goal is for you to give the talk that only you can give.”
Step 3. Sound human. A tiny pause, a breath - even a brief stumble - will not a speech ruineth. In fact, such ‘awkward’ can make you seem more real; more trustworthy. Audiences rarely look for perfection. They want clarity and connection.
All the best,
Vic n Paul
This training comes from the TYPICAL ME and CONNECTION Pillars in the Talk TACTICs system.
#AppliedImprovisation #YesAnd #BusinessInPlay #BusinessSkills #PersonalGrowth #AgilityinBusiness #AdaptabilityQuotient #FreelanceAmbition #SmallBusiness #solopreneurs #PositiveEnergy #PlayfulSolutions #Awkward #Relax
If you have a work problem to fix and you want to hear how applied improvisation can support you, email us at hello@improvinc.co.uk. We’d love to meet you! All chemistry calls are free.
Sound Clash!
Aim: This activity digs into awkward moments in company or when presenting. If you can do this, you’ll reduce the ‘awkward’ because you’ll be invested in making sense of the audio puzzle.
Outcome: The concentration helps brain-train chaos acceptance while dialling down a sense of ‘awkward’.
How it works: Two people up. If you’re alone, record a starting sentence or five on your phone or laptop that you can hit ‘play’ on as you yourself say something different. The ‘scene’ starts with two sentences that come out of nowhere, eg. “I need to get my washing sorted today or else!” clashes with “What are the chances of you finishing that report by Tuesday?” Make sure they are full sentence with a clear concept behind them. You will then answer the other person’s offer at the same time as they answer yours: ie. you have to listen and speak at the same time.
Reflection: Did you feel stressed? What made it easier?
