Companies often default to using senior executives as spokespeople, assuming title equals authority. However, audience engagement is driven by delivery and personality, not job title. Prioritize employees who are naturally compelling speakers—even if junior—to create more effective content like webinars and podcasts.

Amateurs wing it, but true professionals appear spontaneous because deep preparation gives them the mental capacity to be present, listen, and pivot. Over-rehearsing a script makes you sound robotic and prevents you from genuinely connecting with the audience or conversation partner.

Teams focus heavily on slide content, leaving only a single, late-stage rehearsal. This is insufficient because it doesn't allow time to practice and internalize feedback on delivery, tone, and confidence, which are key value drivers for investors.

The physiological states of anxiety and excitement are nearly identical. Relabeling the feeling by saying "I'm excited" shifts your mindset from threat-based to opportunity-based, improving performance in tasks like public speaking or negotiation.

The term 'self-promotion' feels self-absorbed and can create anxiety. Instead, view content creation as a selfless act of providing value—either through entertainment or information. This shifts the focus from yourself to the audience, making it easier to share your expertise and stories authentically.

Shift your mindset away from a pass/fail evaluation, which fuels anxiety about uncontrollable outcomes. Instead, approach the situation as a curious exploration. This reframe lowers the psychological stakes, reduces nervousness, and allows for more authentic and effective engagement.

Audiences unconsciously scan for truthfulness. A performance where every emotional beat is pre-planned feels false and disengaging. To truly connect, prepare your content, but in the moment, step into the unknown and allow your authentic, present sensations to guide your delivery.

Top performers don't conquer nervousness; they listen to it. Self-doubt is an indicator to lean into, not a signal to stop. Performance coach Giselle Ugardi suggests talking back to your inner critic as a way to reframe and manage the feeling, rather than trying to suppress it.

A powerful personal story is not enough for a world-class presentation. The key is to distill that narrative into a single, transferable idea. According to TED's strategy chief, an audience must be able to apply the core concept to their own lives, even if they don't relate to the specific story being told.