Displaying items by tag: public speaking training

In our years as BAFTA Award-winning television producers, we learned countless lessons about what makes content truly compelling. These weren't abstract creative principles—they were practical techniques refined through the unforgiving standards of broadcast television.

Now, working with business professionals at The Presenter Studio, we've discovered something valuable: the production insights that earned us industry recognition translate directly into more effective business presentations.

Here are the key lessons from behind the camera that can transform what you do in front of an audience.

Insight 1: Pre-Production Determines Success

In television, there's a saying: "Fix it in pre-production, not in post-production."

When we were producing BAFTA-winning content, we spent weeks planning before a single frame was filmed. We knew exactly what story we were telling, what shots we needed, what questions we'd ask, and how pieces would fit together.

The actual filming? That was just executing a carefully designed plan.

Amateur productions do the opposite. They start filming and hope to "find it in editing." The results are always weaker, no matter how much time they spend in post-production trying to rescue poorly planned content.

How this applies to business presentations:

Most business presentations fail during preparation, not delivery. People start building slides before they've clarified their core message. They haven't thought about their audience's perspective. They haven't structured their narrative arc. They're hoping to "fix it" during delivery or with impressive visuals.

At The Presenter Studio, we teach a pre-production approach to presentations:

1. Define your exact objective. What specific action or decision do you want from this presentation? (In TV, we'd call this knowing your story.)
2. Understand your audience deeply. What do they care about? What are their concerns? What's their knowledge level? (This is audience research—critical in television.)
3. Structure your narrative. What's your opening hook? What's your core argument? What evidence supports it? What's your closing call to action? (This is your production outline.)
4. Plan your key moments. Which three points absolutely must land? Where will you slow down? Where will you speed up? (These are your "money shots.")

Only after this pre-production work should you build slides or practice delivery.

We've seen executives transform their presentation effectiveness simply by applying television-level pre-production discipline. The content often stays similar, but it's now structured for maximum impact instead of random information delivery.

Insight 2: The First 30 Seconds Are Everything

In television, we obsessed over openings. We knew that if we didn't hook viewers in the first 30 seconds, they'd change the channel. No second chances.

This led to a specific discipline: every piece of content had to open with something immediately interesting. A provocative statement. A compelling visual. An intriguing question. A surprising fact.

We never opened with context or setup or background. We opened with the most interesting thing we had, then provided context after we'd earned attention.

How this applies to business presentations:

Most business presentations open terribly.

"Good morning everyone. Thanks for joining. Today I'll be covering three topics. First, some background on the project. Then we'll look at methodology. Finally, we'll review findings."

This is the equivalent of a TV show opening with: "Welcome to this documentary. In the next hour, we'll explore several themes related to our topic. Let's begin with some historical context."

No one would watch past the first 15 seconds.

Here's what we teach instead, using our broadcast production approach:

Open with your most compelling point. The surprising finding. The bold recommendation. The provocative question. The specific benefit to your audience.

Example transformation:

Before: "Thanks for being here. Today I'm going to present Q3 results and discuss strategic implications for the coming quarter."

After: "Our customer acquisition cost dropped 47% this quarter. That's not a typo - forty-seven percent. Let me show you exactly how we did it and why this changes everything about our growth strategy."

Which would you pay attention to?

Insight 3: Show, Don't Tell (Literally)

Television is a visual medium. One of the first things you learn in production is: if you can show it, show it. Don't have someone describe a beautiful location—show the location. Don't have someone explain how something works—show it working.

During our BAFTA-winning projects, we spent enormous effort finding ways to visualize complex information. Abstract concepts became concrete demonstrations. Data became graphics. Explanations became sequences.

Not because it looked pretty. Because visual information is processed 60,000 times faster than text, and is remembered far longer.

How this applies to business presentations:

Business presentations are typically text-heavy. Slides full of bullet points. Speakers reading information that audiences could read faster themselves.

This is the opposite of television's "show, don't tell" principle.

When we work with executives at The Presenter Studio, we push them toward visual demonstration:

• Instead of listing benefits, show a before-and-after comparison
• Instead of describing a process, walk through a specific example
• Instead of presenting data in tables, create a simple visual that reveals the pattern
• Instead of explaining a concept, demonstrate it with a prop or analogy

One client was presenting a complex operational efficiency improvement. His original presentation was 30 slides of process flows and data tables. We helped him restructure around three specific examples that demonstrated the improvement in action. Same information, radically different impact.

The television producer's instinct - "How can we show this instead of telling it?" - transforms presentations.

Insight 4: Pacing Is an Active Choice, Not an Accident

In television editing, pacing is deliberate. Fast cuts create energy and excitement. Slow sequences create tension or allow emotional moments to breathe. The best productions vary pacing strategically—moments of intensity followed by moments of reflection.

When we were producing award-winning content, we'd spend hours in editing adjusting pace. A few seconds here or there completely changed how content felt.

Pacing wasn't something that "just happened." It was crafted.

How this applies to business presentations:

Most business presenters have one pace: steady and moderate. They move through all content at roughly the same speed, regardless of what they're covering.

This is exhausting for audiences. It's like watching a film where every scene has identical pacing—no variation, no rhythm, no dynamic range.

We teach television-style pacing variation:

• Speed up through background information and context
• Slow down dramatically for your key points
• Pause completely after important statements
• Pick up pace when telling stories or examples
• Decelerate as you approach your conclusion

One technique we borrowed directly from television editing: the "two-beat pause." After delivering your most important point, pause for two full beats (roughly two seconds). This feels uncomfortably long when you're presenting. It's perfect for your audience—giving them time to absorb what you just said.

In television, we'd hold on a significant visual for those extra beats. In presentations, you hold in silence. Same principle, same impact.

Insight 5: Technical Quality Affects Credibility

Here's something we learned producing for BAFTA consideration: technical quality isn't just aesthetic. It affects how seriously audiences take your content.

Poor audio makes viewers question content quality. Bad lighting makes even compelling stories feel amateurish. Shaky camera work undermines credibility.

This isn't shallow. It's psychological. Audiences unconsciously use production quality as a proxy for content quality.

How this applies to business presentations:

When you're on video calls with poor lighting and bad audio, audiences unconsciously perceive you as less credible and less senior—regardless of what you're saying.

When your slides are cluttered and amateur-looking, people doubt the quality of your thinking.

When your physical presence is low-energy, audiences assume your ideas lack energy.

At The Presenter Studio, we apply television production standards to business presentations:

For video presence:

• Invest in basic lighting (even a £30 ring light transforms presence)
• Use a good microphone (laptop mics undermine credibility)
• Frame yourself properly (learn the rule of thirds from photography)
• Create an uncluttered background (or use tasteful blur

Finding your voice is about more than speaking clearly; it is about unlocking confidence, clarity, and influence. Your voice is a reflection of your personality and authenticity.

To discover it, start with self-reflection and identify your core strengths and passions.

Experiment with different tones, pacing, and styles until you find what feels natural.

Seek feedback from trusted colleagues or record yourself to evaluate your delivery.

Aligning your personality with your message ensures that your communication resonates.

Exercises such as vocal warm-ups, mirror practice, and storytelling drills can help refine your voice. When you speak from a place of authenticity and confidence, audiences respond, and your presentations become memorable.

The Presenter Studio offers bespoke coaching to help professionals find and own their voice for maximum impact.

Public speaking is one of the most powerful skills you can develop. From pitching an idea at work to delivering a keynote at a conference, your ability to communicate clearly and confidently influences how others perceive you and how effectively your message is received.

At its core, public speaking is about connection. The best speakers make an audience feel engaged, valued and understood. They know how to shape their message so it resonates, whether they are addressing a handful of people or a large auditorium. Great speakers do not just inform; they inspire action.

The importance of public speaking extends beyond business. It touches education, community leadership, personal branding and even everyday interactions. People who can speak well in public often find themselves trusted with greater responsibility, invited to represent their organisation, and remembered long after they have left the stage.

Confidence is another outcome of mastering public speaking. Many people struggle with nerves and self-doubt when asked to speak in front of others. Training and practice help transform that anxiety into composure. Over time, preparation and repetition build self-assurance, enabling you to stay focused on your message rather than your fears.

If you want to develop your public speaking skills in a structured, supportive environment, consider training opportunities that give you feedback and practical tools. You can explore options here: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training

Public speaking is not only about giving information – it’s about creating inspiration. Facts and figures might inform, but inspiration transforms. The best speakers leave people not just knowing more, but feeling motivated to do more.

At The Presenter Studio, our public speaking courses show you how to make that leap. We’ll help you move beyond educating your audience to truly inspiring them. It’s about using stories, energy, and emotion to create a message that stays with people long after the event is over.

Because in the end, the goal of public speaking isn’t just to fill minds – it’s to light them up.

Learn more about our public speaking courses here: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training

The most memorable public speakers are those who bring passion to the stage. When you speak about what excites you, it becomes infectious – your audience can’t help but be drawn in.

Our public speaking courses at The Presenter Studio are designed to help you unlock and share that passion. It’s not about hiding behind slides or scripts. It’s about speaking from the heart, telling stories, and letting your genuine enthusiasm shine through.

When you share your passion, people listen. And when people listen, they remember.

Discover more about our public speaking courses here: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training

Great public speaking isn’t just about the words you say — it’s about how you say them. A flat, unchanging delivery can make even the most exciting topic feel lifeless. By introducing light and shade into your speaking, you keep your audience engaged, curious, and emotionally invested.

Light and shade means varying your tone, pace, volume, and energy. It’s the vocal equivalent of cinematic lighting — it creates contrast, highlights key moments, and draws attention where it’s needed. If everything is delivered at the same pitch and pace, your words blur into one another. But when you add variety, your message gains texture and impact.

In our presentation skills training at https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training we help speakers identify their natural range and show them how to expand it. Sometimes it’s about slowing down to let a point land. Other times it’s about injecting pace and excitement to build momentum.

Audiences want to feel taken on a journey. Light and shade give your presentation rhythm — and rhythm is what keeps people listening right until the end.

One of the biggest myths about public speaking is that you have to perform or become someone else. In reality, the most powerful speakers are the ones who sound like themselves.

Audiences respond to authenticity. They don’t want perfection — they want connection. So if you trip over a word or lose your place, it’s not the end of the world. What matters more is whether they believe you and relate to you.

Use language you would use in a conversation. Speak naturally, as if you’re talking to just one person in the room. This creates a feeling of intimacy, even with a large audience.

Let your personality come through. If you’re passionate, show it. If you’re thoughtful, lean into that tone. You don’t have to be loud to make an impact — you just need to be real.

Authentic public speaking builds trust. When people feel like they’re hearing the real you, they’re more likely to listen — and more likely to remember what you said.

So before your next presentation, ask yourself: am I being the best version of myself, or am I trying to be someone I’m not? The more you bring yourself to the stage, the more powerful your message becomes.

For more information about our training programmes visit: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training

Confidence is one of the first things people look for in a speaker. But here’s the secret — confidence isn’t something you have or don’t have. It’s something you can build.

The first step is preparation. Knowing your material inside out gives you a strong foundation to fall back on. If you’re confident in what you’re saying, it shows.

Next is how you carry yourself. Body language and posture speak before your words do. Stand tall, take a breath, and look your audience in the eye. Even if you don’t feel confident, acting confident helps shift your mindset.

Don’t be afraid of pausing. Silence gives weight to your words and gives your audience time to absorb what you’re saying. It also gives you space to think.

Reframe nerves as excitement. The physical symptoms are similar — racing heart, butterflies — but the way you interpret them makes all the difference.

And remember, the audience is on your side. They want you to do well. When you focus on the message rather than yourself, your nerves start to ease.

Confidence grows the more you practise. Keep saying yes to opportunities, and over time, public speaking will feel more natural.

For more information about our training programmes visit: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training

The fear of public speaking is one of the most common phobias — and it holds many professionals back from progressing in their careers. But it doesn't have to be that way. At The Presenter Studio, we specialise in helping people overcome anxiety and build lasting confidence through our expert-led public speaking courses.

Our approach is supportive and practical. We don’t throw you into the deep end or expect you to deliver a perfect speech on day one. Instead, we break down the process, helping you understand where nerves come from and how to work with them, not against them.

You'll learn how to prepare in a way that reduces stress, how to manage your breathing and body language, and how to stay present during your delivery. We’ll also help you refine your key messages so you always have something clear and compelling to say.

Many clients who were once terrified of public speaking now thrive in high-pressure situations — from major pitches to media interviews. They credit our personalised feedback, industry insights, and down-to-earth teaching style as the reason they finally found their voice.

If fear has held you back, now’s the time to take control.

For more information about our training programmes visit: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training

What’s the one thing you want your audience to talk about afterwards? That’s your watercooler moment – the idea, phrase or moment in your talk that’s so powerful, people remember it long after they’ve left the room.

In public speaking, being memorable is a skill. You might deliver a perfectly structured presentation, but if it doesn’t stick in people’s minds, it won’t lead to real impact. At The Presenter Studio, we help clients create standout moments that people quote, reference and share – the moments that make a talk truly worth talking about.

A watercooler moment could be a brilliant analogy, a striking visual, a bold statistic, or a moment of unexpected vulnerability. It could be something funny, something moving, or something smartly provocative. But whatever it is, it needs to be intentional. It shouldn’t feel gimmicky – it should reinforce your message in a powerful, emotional, or surprising way.

For example, maybe you’re talking about the speed of change in your industry. Rather than saying it’s “fast,” you could show a time-lapse video of how quickly consumer trends shift in a month. Maybe you’re presenting a new product – instead of listing features, tell the story of the one customer whose life was completely changed by it. Maybe you open with a question no one expects. Or close with a quote that ties everything together.

Watercooler moments aren’t about showing off. They’re about resonance. They give your audience something to hold onto – something they can pass on, remember, and emotionally engage with.

When we coach speakers at The Presenter Studio, we build these moments in from the very start of planning – not as an afterthought, but as a core part of the talk’s structure.

Want to create a presentation that people don’t just hear – but talk about? Visit The Presenter Studio to learn more: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training