When you're asked to speak for thirty minutes, the goal isn’t to simply talk for thirty minutes. The goal is to deliver something of value.
One of the biggest mistakes speakers make is feeling they need to use every second they’ve been given. They go on too long. They repeat points. They fill space just for the sake of it. But audiences don’t measure the quality of a talk by its length. They remember how it made them feel. What it made them think. And whether it gave them something useful.
If you can land your message in twenty minutes instead of thirty, do it. If you can leave the audience with one great idea instead of five forgettable ones, that’s a win. Brevity shows confidence. It tells your audience you respect their time. It leaves space for questions or discussion. And it helps your key points stand out.
It also helps you stay in control. The more you ramble, the more likely you are to lose your thread or drift off course. By keeping things focused, you keep the energy in the room where it should be.
At Presenter Studio, we teach speakers how to structure talks with clarity and impact. Our training helps you make your message land – in less time, with more confidence. Take a look at the course here: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training
In a world full of content, what really cuts through is authenticity. That’s especially true in public speaking. People don’t remember every word you say—they remember how you made them feel. Being real, human and honest is what truly connects.
At The Presenter Studio, we’ve produced some of the UK’s biggest presenters. And we’ve learnt that the best communicators aren’t the most polished—they’re the most relatable. They’re confident in their message, but they’re also grounded in who they are.
So how do you speak authentically? First, use your own words. Avoid jargon or scripted lines that don’t sound like you. Speak the way you speak in real life—with a bit more clarity and purpose.
Next, share something personal. You don’t need to tell your life story. But a well-placed anecdote or insight can help you build a connection with your audience.
Finally, remember that authenticity doesn’t mean winging it. It means preparing well enough that you feel relaxed and in control—so your personality can shine through.
If you want to develop a natural, confident speaking style that still delivers impact, our bespoke coaching is here to help. Find out more at https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training
Even the most confident professionals feel nervous before public speaking. The good news is, nerves are normal—and they can even help sharpen your performance. But when nerves take over, they can affect your delivery. That’s where training and preparation come in.
At The Presenter Studio, we work with clients who have to speak under pressure—live TV, investor meetings, high-stakes interviews. We’ve developed techniques to manage nerves and help you feel in control.
The first step is breathing. Shallow breathing fuels anxiety. Practice slowing your breath and grounding your voice from your stomach. This will also help you speak with more presence.
Visualisation is another helpful tool. Take a few minutes to picture yourself on stage, speaking calmly and clearly. It helps trick your brain into thinking you’ve already done it successfully.
And finally, focus on your audience—not yourself. Nervous speakers often worry how they’re being judged. But your job is to deliver value. Think about what your audience needs to hear and how you can help them.
To work with our team of TV producers turned communication coaches, explore our presentation skills training at: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training
I recently went to a concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London to watch the violinist Nigel Kennedy perform and his performance reminded me so much about the presentation skills and media training work we do at The Presenter Studio.
Nigel was performing the classic Vivaldi's Four Seasons but this wasn't Nigel giving a note perfect technical performance this was Nigel giving his own interpretation of how that music should sound and feel.
And it reminded me of the one thing that most of our clients at The Presenter Studio find hard to master and it's the one thing that we love helping with - and that's making things their own.
There's a long tradition and presentation skills of copy and pasting embracing the corporate voice, sounding 'professional', hiding behind slides - but is that really the most authentic way of communicating? Is that really your own take on how to present information?
So the next time you're doing a presentation think about your favorite performer, musician, or actor and how they own their content and make it very much their own. And that's what you need to do in your presentation to give it the impact it deserves.
For more information about how we work at The Presenter Studio visit: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training