“My goodness, she’s difficult!” – Why clear announcements are not bitchiness
“What’s the big deal about walking through that door and making an introduction?” I heard in my ear, which was wired to the control room. The scene took place years ago during a live broadcast by the German television station SWR during the German Dance Championships in Karlsruhe. The reason for the commotion? My allegedly bitchy behavior. But what had happened?
I refused to walk through a swinging door with steep stairs while I was supposed to give a challenging opening presentation. For the first time in my career as a sports presenter, I decided that it was ME who defined how best to present my text. After all, it was ME who was standing in front of the camera live – and not the team behind it.
1. Sovereignty means setting the stage
And that brings us to one of the most important points for a good performance: Whether in front of a camera, on a stage or in a conference room, a confident performance depends on defining and setting the best possible framework conditions for yourself. This is the only way to appear focused, self-confident and convincing.
But this is often precisely what is missing:
- Rushed by an unannounced conversation shortly before the event
- Stage entrance and exit not clarified
- No microphone or camera test
- No standing desk or one that is too high or too low
- Most unfavorable place in the room
- No water nearby to prevent dry mouth
- Been placed at the end of the agenda
- Or – a classic – clothes that pinch and have to be constantly tugged into place and no spare top
There are countless examples of unfavorable conditions. And countless women who don’t have the confidence to ask or correct exactly what they need to present their topic. They mistakenly believe that they will be perceived as particularly professional if they agree to everything and “confidently” accept any disruption.
Based on decades of experience presenting in front of cameras and on stage, I recommend:
That you recognize early on what conditions you personally need to be at your best – and enforce them. This is true professionalism, not bitchiness. Because at the end of the day, it’s YOUR career, YOUR cause, and the impression YOU make. And you should put that first.
2. Good preparation: the basis for a brilliant performance
This also sounds obvious, but many people still tend to stick to the surface. Preparation means not only knowing your own text, but also being so confident in your topic that no one can throw you off track.
When you are truly confident in your topic, you have two key advantages:
- You will be able to counter any interjection, objection, or criticism, which will underscore your confidence.
- Stage fright is reduced because you feel confident.
A brief digression here: stage fright is actually a primal fear, namely a fear of death. Every speaker, no matter how many times they have gotten up in front of people, has stage fright in one form or another. The good thing is that stage fright makes us alert and focused, so it is definitely helpful. However, because stage fright is associated with the release of adrenaline, this state only lasts for a short time. The body cannot produce adrenaline over a long period of time.
This means that stage fright passes relatively quickly, which is why you should keep the introduction to your presentation as short and uncomplicated as possible. A look at the audience, a friendly greeting, a round of applause or a few simple, relaxed sentences are all you need to get into calm waters and continue in a relaxed manner.
3. Why mishaps are your secret weapon
One of the main reasons why many people shy away from giving presentations or speeches is the fear that “something will happen”. Something like: I won’t think of anything, I’ll knock over my water glass, I’ll trip, …whatever mean thing the world might have in store for me when I’m in the spotlight or presenting my most important business case.
Every mishap is a welcome opportunity to make yourself immortal to your audience.
The only thing you should take to heart: don’t react with embarrassment, but with a sense of humor. Take the adverse circumstance in your stride, swing with it and deal with it in a charming and relaxed manner. Dealing with mishaps authentically is the magic formula for making your audience love you and not feel sorry for you.
An example from my career as a presenter: I presented a live broadcast to the United States in a huge assembly hall for a major automotive supplier – with the greatest technical effort and multiple cameras. The visibly nervous board members were standing next to me, while on the other side of the Atlantic thousands of employees of the subsidiary were eagerly awaiting the highlight of their convention: our live broadcast from the German factory floor.
When the big moment arrived and we went live, the unthinkable happened: the picture was gone. Just gone. They could hear us, but they couldn’t see us. The nervous board members next to me looked at me in despair and I had no choice but to crawl under the bar table and fiddle with the cables. Suddenly, the picture was back — and in the U.S., they saw me emerge from under the table, bright red in the face and laughing with relief: ‘Hey – welcome!’
Never again in my life have I received such roaring applause and had such grateful interview partners. That clip was the highlight of my management’s introduction video for years and brought me numerous engagements.
And if that doesn’t give you enough confidence, here’s another trick from the magic box: Sit a sympathetic colleague at the table in row 2 who smiles nicely at you and nods in support. Speak specifically to that person during your presentation. This way, you can concentrate on positive signals instead of being distracted by skeptical looks or sleepy faces in the audience – and you can keep the focus on your content.
Now the ball is in your court! Good luck and BAM for your next presentation.
