Every time we run a presentation skills course, the same kinds of questions come up, and they’re good ones. They’re the kind that show people care and have a real desire to connect with their audience. They want to hold attention, convey ideas with clarity, and feel confident while doing it.

Here are some of the most common questions we hear and a few thoughts from me and the Aspire team on how to approach them.

Q: What can help me deal with nerves as a presenter?

Everyone feels nervous sometimes, even experienced speakers. The goal isn’t to eliminate them; it’s to work with them.

Try starting with a few deep, steady breaths before you begin, it calms your body’s natural stress response. Then reconnect with why you’re speaking.

Why does this matter to you?

Why does it matter to your audience?

Smile, even a small, genuine one, gives you a small action to do and can send a powerful message to your brain:

“I’m okay. I can take care of this.”

And remember, nerves are often a sign that you care. Acknowledge them rather than trying to crush them. The act of naming what you’re feeling, “I’m nervous because I want this to go well” can bring you back into the moment.

Finally, reframe your mindset. Instead of “I have to give this presentation,” try “I want to share something important.” That small linguistic shift can transform your energy.

Q: How can I sell my idea in a presentation or pitch?

People buy into people before they buy into ideas. Start by connecting with your audience on a human level. Show you understand their world, their challenges, and what matters to them.

Then make your message clear and memorable. Strip it back to its essentials.

Focus on the core idea you want them to remember.  Why should they care?

Stories help. Humans are wired for them even in a business setting. A brief example, a case study, or a personal insight can help make your point stick.

And don’t forget your energy. Selling an idea isn’t about being slick, it’s about being authentic. When you believe what you’re saying, people will feel it.

Q: How do I avoid ‘death by PowerPoint’?

This comes up a lot in our courses. People seem to both love and hate PowerPoint!  So here’s our take:

The temptation to fill slides with every word you’ll say is strong. But less really is more.

First talk to your audience, not the PowerPoint. That means eyes forward! (If you point your feet and shoulders towards the people you are talking to that can help).

Use slides sparingly and purposefully. Turn the tech off when you don’t need it. Slides should support your story, not be the story.

Keep them clean, uncluttered, and visually consistent. Limit the amount of text; choose clear, readable fonts. Use images to genuinely help people understand or feel something.

Break the content into bite-sized chunks and be very clear about your key message. Ask yourself: What do I want people to remember?

If you are working with a complex slide don’t be afraid to physically show your audience where to look to follow the points you are making. Think of it as the map of a story and you are showing them landmarks.

In short: your slides are your backdrop. You are the presentation.

Q: I want to come across as passionate, but the material is very dry.

You can bring warmth and energy to almost any topic if you connect it to something human. Ask yourself, why does this matter? What’s the real-world impact? How does it help, protect, or improve something for people?  What might happen if people don’t take action on this?

Your delivery can also make a huge difference. Use your voice with light and shade. Pause to let key points land. If you believe in what you’re saying, your tone and presence will carry that, even if the content is technical. Sometimes it can help to record yourself and listen to it back to see how you can make small changes for a big impact.

And remember, passion doesn’t always mean high energy. Sometimes quiet conviction is the most powerful form of passion.

Q: Whenever the CEO is in the room, they steamroll my presentation.

That’s tough, and surprisingly common. The first step is preparation so that you can anticipate their likely interventions. What topics do they tend to comment on? Have a plan for how to respond and perhaps even pre-empt some of their points in your introduction.

If they interrupt, try to stay calm and generous and think of their comment as a gift to be grateful for. At least it means they’re awake and engaged! You might say something like, “Yes, I agree that’s a really important point. Thank you for bringing it up.” Then you can either segue into the point immediately or show how you are coming to deal with it later in the presentation.

You can also involve them positively: “I know this area is close to your heart. I’d love to get your perspective on it.”

Leadership presence isn’t about overpowering others. It’s about holding your space with quiet confidence.

Q: I’ve got so much to cover and it always ends up being too long.

When you know a lot, it’s tempting to include everything. But your audience may not be able to absorb it all in one go.

Be ruthless with your edit. Ask yourself, “What are the main things I really need them to take away?” Then cut anything that doesn’t serve those points. You can always provide a take away pack for them with further details.

Time yourself in rehearsal. What feels short when practising often expands on the day. Leave space for questions. If there’s more you want to share, follow up afterwards with an email or resource link.

Q: How do we make presentations engaging when we have to use the company format and mandatory slides?

Think about what interests you about the presentation. Then emphasise the most important bits.

Many organisations have strict templates but there’s still room for humanity. You can bring the slides to life through how you talk about them.

Tell the story that sits behind the bullet points. Add examples, colour, and context. Use your body language and voice to bring life to the presentation.

You might also personalise your introduction and ending. Those are usually fair game. Begin with a human connection, end with a clear call to action or reflection.

Even within a rigid structure, you can still shine through.

Q: How do I present when there are multiple stakeholders in the room?

When people come from different departments or perspectives, it’s vital to establish a shared purpose early on. Why are we all here? What unites us?

Name the different lenses in the room:

“I know we’ve got people from finance, operations, and HR here and each of you will have slightly different priorities…” That immediately builds trust.

As you speak, rotate your eye contact and energy around the room. Give everyone the sense that you’re including them.

And when questions come, bridge between perspectives:

“That’s a great point from a finance angle. Does that resonate for the operations team, too?” You become the host and the connector.

Q: How do I present to a mixed audience?

Whether it’s different levels of expertise, roles, or seniorities, the principle is the same: meet people where they are.

Layer your message. Start broad and set the context so that everyone can follow, then build depth for those who need it.

It’s good to acknowledge experience in the room whilst introducing an idea to those that aren’t experts in the same field.

Use stories, examples, and analogies to make technical content accessible and check understanding as you go, not in a patronising way, but through natural phrasing like, “I’ll just pause there in case anyone’s thinking, hang on, how does that work?”

Inclusivity in presenting is about empathy.

Q: How do I make presentations engaging without being unprofessional?

Professional doesn’t mean dull. Engagement comes from authenticity, clarity, and warmth, not from gimmicks.

You can bring plenty of humour, storytelling, and a conversational tone, as long as it serves the message and respects the context.

Being professional is really about showing respect for your audience’s time and intelligence and when you do that and make it enjoyable, you’re onto something special.

Final Thoughts

Great presenting isn’t about performance, it’s about presence. It’s about being fully with your audience and talking to them directly, not just in front of them.

So when you say, “Good morning.” Look them in the eye, smile, and mean it.

It’s too tempting to say it to the PowerPoint or worse, your shoes!

When you connect, you don’t just inform, you influence. You leave people feeling something. And that’s the kind of presentation they remember.