Authenticity continues to be a challenging yet dynamic concept within the professional space because it requires a balance between what an organization defines as standard and welcoming the personal elements of the people within that organization. One context where authenticity can be pretty tricky is when we give presentations. How do I remain authentic in this context? How do I determine how much of myself I can bring to this presentation?
At the core of authenticity is remembering that it refers to a person’s state of being and does not necessarily mean behaving the same way in every context. Varying contexts warrant varying norms and behaviors, and the same goes for delivering presentations.
First, you can be authentic when planning the presentation.
In planning your presentation, you must have a clear understanding of context to determine how to position yourself authentically. The presentation itself, platform of delivery and audience are all important considerations in this phase.
An avenue for maintaining your authentic self in your planning is through using various tools to connect with your audience. Storytelling will always be a powerful avenue to create relatability and connection. It is one of the most effective methods that distinguished speakers use to make their presentations more personable and to bring themselves into what they’re sharing.
Let’s suppose you’re delivering a presentation on professional brand development to high school seniors. An example of a storytelling technique that represents your authenticity and connects well with the audience may be recalling one of your profound experiences as a high schooler that led to paving your professional path. That’s just one example – feel free to explore the endless possibilities that keep your identity and authenticity within the presentation and connect well with the audience.
Second, you can be authentic in the delivery.
You’ve spent all this time creating an authentic presentation, and now it’s time to deliver. The delivery aspect can sometimes be daunting when considering nerves and other realities such as time constraints and unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, if you tend to rely on presentation notes a lot, it may seem scripted, which can impact how authentically you experience yourself and how authentic your audience perceives you to be.
The most important part of delivering your presentation is to be attuned to your audience. Of course, you want to stick with your plans as much as possible but be open to meeting your audience where they are. When you adopt that perspective, it allows you to connect with them more deeply while you present and create opportunities for conversations in which you can bring in your authentic lived experiences and stories.
Maintaining authenticity in your presentations can be challenging, but it is the most profound way to deliver impactful and memorable presentations. Remember, you are most confident when you are being yourself!
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