Most presenters aim to “inform.” The best presenters aim to inspire, influence, and move people to action. Slides don’t make you memorable. Your presence does.

5. Build Confidence Through Preparation Confidence doesn’t appear magically. It comes from knowing: Your material Your audience Your structure When you prepare deeply, confidence shows naturally. → Preparation is the real secret to charisma.

4. Simplify Your Message If they remember 1 thing, what should it be? Cut jargon. Cut clutter. Cut complexity. One big idea Three supporting points Clear call-to-action → Clarity beats complexity every time.

3. Practice Delivery, Not Just Content Most people rehearse what to say. Great presenters rehearse how to say it. Tone Pauses Gestures Eye contact → Delivery is 70% of persuasion.

2. Master the Opening Minute Your audience decides in 60 seconds whether to tune in or zone out. Bad start = dead room. Great start = hooked crowd. Start with a story Ask a bold question Share a surprising fact → First impressions set the tone.

1. Stop Hiding Behind Slides Slides are support, not the star. Too much text kills attention Reading from slides makes you invisible Design never replaces delivery → You are the presentation, not your PowerPoint.

I’ve coached hundreds of professionals on presentations. Most think it’s about "slides". But the ones who stand out know it’s about something else entirely. Here are 5 skills that separate great presenters from everyone else: 🧵

What happens to my business after me? Some founders build legacies. Others build dependencies. If it can’t breathe without you, it’s not a legacy — it’s a brilliant job in disguise. Think of what will remain when you're gone. Then start building that. #QuestionsToAskYourBusiness

12/ Final thought: To rise as a leader, think strategically — and speak it fluently. Those who communicate strategy clearly are the ones who inspire, align, and lead. Start using these 10 tips and elevate your impact.

11/ Seek feedback After strategy discussions, ask: "Did this direction resonate with the team?" "How can we align this with our mission better?" It signals humility, growth, and commitment.

10/ Practice strategic listening Great strategy includes others’ perspectives. "Building on your point…" "That aligns with our insight on market saturation…" This strengthens collaboration and collective intelligence.

9/ Show you're informed Ground your ideas in current data and trends: "Recent consumer behavior research shows…" "Digital consumption patterns are shifting fast…" You earn credibility when you know the landscape.

8/ Stimulate strategic dialogue Ask thought-provoking questions: "If our brand were a story, what chapter are we in?" "How does this reflect our core values?" It turns passive listeners into active thinkers.

7/ Use analogies and metaphors Translate strategy into relatable ideas. "Our infrastructure is the backbone of operations." "Our marketing is a net catching new markets." It helps ideas stick and spread.

6/ Simplify the complex Make strategy easy to grasp. Use plain language: "At its core, our plan rests on 3 pillars…" "This tech, in essence, solves X…" Clarity shows mastery.

5/ Connect the dots Link events across teams and systems. "Increased digital adoption affects our e-commerce play…" "Supply chain delays impact our go-to-market…" This reveals integrative, systems-level thinking.

4/ Anticipate impacts Don’t just share decisions — share their ripple effects. Try: "This product could transform customer experience…" "Beyond short-term wins, this positions us for…" It shows depth in your thinking.

3/ Be forward-looking Strategic thinkers look ahead. Use future-oriented language: "Projecting growth by 2028…" "Should we prepare for competitors' moves…?" It signals long-term thinking.

2/ Elevate your perspective Zoom out. Don't just focus on tasks. Say things like: "Considering our 3-year vision…" "Reflecting on industry trends…" It shows you see the big picture — and align others to it.

1/ Are you a strategic thinker? More importantly — do others see you as one? To get ahead in your career, it's not enough to think strategically. You must speak strategically too. Here are 10 ways to prove you're a strategic thinker by Brenda Steinberg and Michael D. Watkins: