When people hear the word presentation, they often picture a formal boardroom or a high-stakes pitch deck. But the truth is, presenting isn’t just for keynote speakers or senior leaders – it’s a vital skill for anyone, whatever you do.
Whether you’re sharing an idea in a team meeting, giving an update on a project, or persuading stakeholders to back your proposal, you are presenting. And how effectively you do that can shape how your ideas are received, how confident you feel, and even how your career progresses.
We see time and again how developing this skill can be a game-changer – not just for individuals, but for teams and entire organisations.
As an artist, I rely on sharing my story on social media to reach a wider audience. It’s so important to understand how I can get the attention of my audience, and quickly, in order to expand my following. So really unpicking the importance of how I unfold my message has been key to my career, both in the studio as well as when helping others in the training room.
Why Presenting Matters (Beyond the Podium)
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Everyday Influence
You don’t need a stage to make an impact. Presenting is about influencing people’s thoughts and actions – whether you’re proposing a new process to your manager or helping a customer understand a product better.
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Clarity Creates Confidence
Presenting well forces you to structure your thinking. If you can explain something clearly to others, it’s a good sign you understand it yourself. And with that clarity comes confidence. It’s the same for me when I’m in the studio creating a new artwork – clarity of my vision translates to more expressive, assured strokes on the canvas. Like a strong composition, a clear message gives your ideas room to breathe.
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It’s Not Just What You Say…
It’s how you say it. Your body language, tone, and visuals all shape how your message lands. Becoming more aware of your natural presentation style helps you connect with others and bring authenticity into your communication. Just as a painter uses colour to evoke emotion, you use your voice, pauses, and gestures to bring your message to life.
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Your Career Will Thank You
From job interviews to team updates to performance reviews…or even going on a date! – your ability to speak clearly and confidently can open doors, build trust, and raise your visibility. And in today’s world, it’s not just about presenting in person. Every social media post, every video, every message you craft is a form of presentation – and the ability to hook your audience quickly is what makes your message memorable.
Marcus’s Top Tips for Better Presentations
Here are a few tips that make a real difference:
Start with your message
Before you fire up PowerPoint, ask yourself: What’s the point? What do I want my audience to think, feel, or do? That’s the anchor of your presentation. When I’m creating video content for my audience, this is where I always start, with this question – why will my audience want to see this and what is going to be interesting about it – this then also helps inform the text that accompanies that video or image.
Use the Pyramid Principle
Structure matters. Start with your conclusion, group your supporting points, and back them up with evidence. This top-down approach helps your audience stay with you—and helps you stay on track. Just like a strong composition guides the eye, a strong structure guides the mind.
Practise out loud
Silent rehearsals in your head don’t count. Say it aloud. Record yourself. Hear where you ramble. Find your natural pace. Real-world practice builds real-world confidence. More than ever, I think this is so important not just to practise out loud, but to warm up out loud. Sometimes, the first time we speak in the morning is when we turn on Teams or Zoom and talk in our morning team meeting. Our voices aren’t ready, and even just humming your favourite song beforehand will really help you enunciate your words, and therefore you will have a clearer message.
Engage, don’t just inform
Make your presentation a conversation, not a monologue. Ask a question. Tell a story. Invite input. The more your audience feels involved, the more likely your message will stick. This is the same principle behind viral social media hooks – draw people in, then keep them curious. Think about what will make them stop scrolling and start listening!
I often tell people in the training room to remove the word “professional” from their thoughts, as I think this sometimes holds us back in the way we communicate our message. Instead, speak as though you were telling a friend about it at a dinner party—this will be far more authentic and more you!
Play to your strengths
There’s no one “right” way to present.
Some people bring warmth, others bring detail, others bring clarity.
Discover your style, and own it because authenticity is the ultimate hook.
