Dancing in the Line of Fire

Bringing the curtain down on this series, the final episode explores Authenticity - the seemingly magical quality that separates the unique from the everyday and, when combined with Confidence and Presence, distinguishes the magnetic from the ordinary.

The penultimate episode in this series explores something called status, which is rarely discussed in the context of giving presentations. A study with its roots in improvisational theatre, it is one of the ways in which a presenter can flex the relationship they have with their audience so as to better lead, follow and respond to them.

If doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity, then those presenters who avoid seeking feedback on their performances might struggle to develop their style. But those that welcome it will still need to distinguish between the good, the bad and the ugly in order to derive value from it.

Since early 2020 many of us have been catapulted into presenting online, and have taught ourselves how to use remote conferencing software. This new format requires us to support our presentation delivery with some of the technical skills required for video production. This episode explores some of the challenges that come with this relatively new format, and celebrates some of the opportunities that it offers.

Often considered as the presentation itself, this episode explores the relationship between a presenter and their visual aids.

No matter how much you prepare and rehearse a presentation, there comes a point when you have to stop walking towards the Line of Fire and start dancing in it. This episode explores the void into which a presenter steps in the full knowledge that it is the audience that is the best judge of a presentation's impact.

Preparing and rehearsing a presentation is essential, but how can we prepare for our audience? How can we know what they will be like? How can we know what mood they'll be in? Do we even know what they want or expect from us? This episode discusses preparing for the unknown of an audience.

Along with confidence, presence seems to be something that presenters want and audiences expect. This episode explores what it might be and how we might develop it so as to perform with presence.