Even after years in corporate jobs, big presentations can still make me nervous. That’s normal, and it usually means you care.
The difference now is that I have a routine. It doesn’t make the nerves disappear, but it makes them manageable. In this post I share exactly how I prepare for a big presentation at work: before, on the day, and in the last five minutes before I start.
Why presentations make us so nervous
Standing in front of people feels like being judged. Will they think I’m smart enough? What if I forget what to say? What if someone asks a question I can’t answer?
For me, one thought changed a lot: the people in the room are there to learn from me, not to judge me. They chose to be there because they want something from my presentation. That shift took a lot of pressure off.
Before the day: prepare the content really well
Know your content inside out
Confidence comes from preparation. I spend most of my time on the content itself: what’s the main message, what do people need to understand, and what do I want them to do after.
A simple structure that works:
- Start with why it matters to this audience.
- Three main points, not ten.
- One clear ending: what you want people to remember or do.
Practise out loud, a lot
This is my biggest tip. I practise a lot. Not reading the slides in my head, but actually speaking, out loud, from start to finish. The first few times feel awkward. By the fifth time, the words start to flow.
Practising out loud helps you find the parts where you stumble, check your timing, and remember your story without reading from the slides.
Prepare for questions
Write down the questions people might ask, especially the difficult ones, and think about your answers. If you don’t know something on the day, it’s completely fine to say: “Good question, let me check and come back to you.”
Make your slides support you, not replace you
Fewer words, more visuals. If your slides say everything, people read instead of listening to you.
On the day: set yourself up to feel good
Dress so you feel confident
On presentation days I dress a bit more formally than usual, often a blazer with trousers, or a dress with a blazer. It’s not about impressing anyone. It’s about feeling put together, so I don’t have to think about how I look. I shared my go-to looks in what I wear to the office in the Netherlands.
Get there early
Check the room, the screen and the clicker. Technical problems are much less stressful when you have time to fix them.
Move your body
Sometimes, before a big work event, I even dance a little 😄 It sounds funny, but moving shakes off the nervous energy and puts me in a good mood.
The last five minutes: my ritual
This is the part I do every single time.
- A few deep breaths. Slow, deep breaths in and out. It calms my heartbeat.
- Shake out my hands. I literally shake my hands loosely for a few seconds. It releases the tension in my body.
- Remind myself why they’re there. “They’re here to learn from me, not to judge me.”
That’s it. Simple, but it works for me.
During the presentation
- Start slower than you think. Nerves make us speak fast.
- Look at a few friendly faces in different parts of the room.
- Pause. A short pause feels long to you, but natural to the audience.
- It’s okay to make a small mistake. Most people won’t even notice. Smile and keep going.
After the presentation
Take a moment to note what went well and one thing to improve next time. Ask a colleague you trust for honest feedback. Every presentation makes the next one easier.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calm my nerves before a presentation?
Prepare your content well, practise out loud, and use a short routine in the last few minutes, like deep breathing and shaking out your hands. Remind yourself the audience is there to learn, not to judge.
How many times should I practise a presentation?
As many times as you need to feel comfortable without reading your slides. For an important presentation, I practise it out loud several times.
What should I wear for a big presentation at work?
Wear something a little smarter than usual that you feel comfortable and confident in, like a blazer with trousers or a dress.
What if I forget what to say?
Pause, take a breath and look at your notes or slide. A short pause is normal. Practising out loud beforehand makes this much less likely.
What do you do to calm your nerves before a presentation? Tell me in the comments 👇
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