I recently worked with someone close to me, someone who wasn’t shy about pushing back on almost every suggestion I offered. It was an experience that showed me just how strong those instinctive reactions to resist can be—even when the advice is sound. But here’s the kicker: despite the back-and-forth, they eventually followed my recommendations and ended up with a fantastic outcome. And that’s the magic of client pushbacks—when you don’t immediately accept their resistance, amazing things can happen. Instead of taking objections personally, I encourage you to embrace these moments. They’re a chance to lean in, address their concerns, and guide them toward a result that even they may not have seen coming.
Let’s dive into the three most common areas where clients often hesitate, where pushing past and embracing them can make all the difference.
- Investing the Time to Polish the Performance
The first point of resistance is one of the most common: investing the time to fully polish the presentation. In this case, the presentation was set for an audience of about 150 people at the 2024 Community Colleges Conference—a true honour and an opportunity that many others would be thrilled to have. But with the competing demands of our busy lives, setting aside time to perfect a talk can feel nearly impossible, no matter how high the stakes.
Even though there are plenty of hacks to streamline and refine a presentation faster than ever, nothing truly replaces the impact of dedicated practice. And here’s the kicker: not putting in this time is one of the most common post-presentation regrets. It’s easy to think, “I’ll be fine” or “I’ll wing it if I have to,” but when the moment arrives, that lack of polish often shows, leaving you wishing you’d spent just a bit more time on it.
- Practice Out Loud
The second point is one that often meets resistance: practicing your presentation *out loud.* It’s one thing to read through your notes, but speaking them aloud is essential if you want a smooth, professional delivery. Reading alone doesn’t capture the timing, because most people read faster in their heads than they would when speaking; for a presentation, 120 words per minute is a reliable pace. If you skip practicing out loud, your timing will likely be off when it counts.
More importantly, your voice is controlled by muscles, and just like with any skill, developing the muscle memory for a confident delivery takes practice. Speaking out loud helps build the breathing control, tonality, and rhythm that make your words resonate. By actually vocalising, you’ll instinctively learn when to pause, breathe, and relax, all of which lead to a stronger, more engaging performance. Plus, hearing your content aloud helps you process it differently. You know how a phrase can sound completely different in your head than when you actually say it? Practicing out loud lets you hear your words as your audience will, helping you fine-tune the tone and emphasis to match your message. Don’t let the stage be the first time you’re hearing your own presentation.
- Record It, Play It Back, and Talk to It
The third area of resistance is one that’s both challenging and transformative: recording yourself, listening back, and actually talking to your playback. It’s hands down one of the best and most efficient ways to refine your presentation. Yet, most of us cringe at the sound of our own voices—our first reaction is usually something along the lines of, “I can’t stand it!” or “My tone doesn’t match the message at all!” It’s easy to find fault, to feel awkward, and to end up telling ourselves that it just “doesn’t sound like me.” These reactions are normal, and they make it tempting to push back and dismiss the exercise altogether. But this discomfort is exactly why it’s so powerful.
Think of it this way: how often do you find yourself knowing the words to songs without even trying? When you sing along to a tune, you pick it up fast—usually without realising it. You might hear a song only a few times, and suddenly you’re able to recall every lyric. Even years later, just hearing the first few notes can bring back the words effortlessly. This is because of the way repetition and sound help us absorb information, creating pathways in our memory that bring it all back instantly.
Now, imagine having that same fluency with your presentation. Recording and playing it back, then speaking along with it, creates the same effect. With each playback, you’ll become more comfortable with the content, building a rhythm and muscle memory that makes the words feel natural and effortless. The more you hear yourself, the less you’ll need to rely on your notes. And better yet, by embedding your message this way, you won’t have to second-guess yourself while presenting.
This exercise is also invaluable for spotting areas where adjustments are needed. You’ll pick up on inconsistencies in your tone, places where your pacing feels off, and opportunities to pause or emphasise key points. It’s an ideal time to experiment and improve before you’re in front of an audience. Yes, it can be uncomfortable at first, but that discomfort quickly fades as you build confidence. So instead of letting self-doubt hold you back, use this as a tool to make your presentation smooth, impactful, and memorable—without needing to look down at your notes.
If you found this interesting and you would like to know more about 3 key ways to start your presentation, or how to put together a really quick story that demonstrates your knowledge and connection to the topic, reach out and I will be happy to share. If you are interested in crafting your pitch in a day please get in touch via scott@workforceblueprint.com.au.