One of the most exciting parts of delivering a workshop is the energy that fills the room when attendees share their experiences and strategies. At the August Leadership & Lattes event, we focused on a challenge nearly every leader faces: the fear of public speaking and the art of presenting with confidence. Together, we built a collection of tips that are worth sharing with everyone.
🌟 Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking
Focus on the value you deliver, not on yourself.
Have a ritual before presenting (prayer, breathwork, affirmations, meditation, or power pose).
Visualize success — see yourself calm and confident in the room.
Dress in a way that makes you feel confident and comfortable.
Use breathwork or box breathing to settle nerves.
Reframe anxiety as excitement — turn nervous energy into fuel.
Boost your mood with a quick dance or your favorite song before you present.
🎨 Designing Engaging Slides
Keep slides minimal — “PowerPoint, not power paragraph.”
Use bullet points, not full sentences.
Animate bullet points to control the flow of information.
Use visuals and images to help people connect with your message.
Blank the screen (press “B” in PowerPoint) to bring attention back to you.
Highlight or zoom in on critical data instead of overloading charts.
Save detailed content for handouts, not slides.
🎤 Delivering & Engaging the Audience
Engage through questions, storytelling, and activities.
Use the rule of three for memorable points.
Don’t try to memorize word-for-word — connection matters more than perfection.
Share the stage: invite participation to relieve pressure on yourself and boost audience connection.
Arrive early to set up, get comfortable with the space, and own the room.
Prepare with an outline, not a script, so you can stay natural and adaptable.
Don’t judge your audience by their faces — silence often means they’re processing.
Anticipate audience questions and have answers ready.
🔧 Extra Practical Tips
Always have a Plan B — icebreakers, handouts, or PDFs in case tech fails.
Embed fonts in your PowerPoint to prevent formatting issues on other computers.
Avoid internet-dependent features like QR codes in secure/corporate settings.
Watch your fuel — avoid alcohol, salty foods, dairy and citrus the night before and the morning of the presentation to reduce throat irritation.
Use essential oils or familiar scents to anchor a confident mindset.
For executive-level talks, apply the pyramid principle: lead with the recommendation, then provide supporting details.
Fear of public speaking is natural, and with the right strategies, we can turn nerves into confidence, create slides that support (not overshadow) our message, and deliver in a way that truly connects with the audience.
Building Leaders. Breaking Limitations.
Dima Ghawi is a catalyst for leadership transformation, guiding professionals and organizations to shatter limitations, embrace growth, and lead boldly. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential.
Ready to break the limitations that are holding you back? Explore our professional development program designed to elevate your capabilities to the next level. Reach out to Dima at dima@dimaghawi.com and check BreakingVases.com.
