Are You Presenting—or Performing?

by | Sep 5, 2025 | Blog, Public Speaking | 0 comments

Caucasian man with beard and moustache in a white T-shirt holds up a mask in his right hand and a script in his left hand. There are stage lights shining on him

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that public speaking is about putting on a performance. You’ve probably seen polished speakers who seem larger than life and thought, That’s how I should sound. Or maybe you’ve written out every word of your talk, memorized it, and practiced it like a script. But here’s the truth: when you do that, you’re not really presenting—you’re performing. And your audience can feel the difference. Learn why presenting or performing makes all the difference—and how showing up as your authentic self creates real connection with your audience.

Why Performing Doesn’t Work

Performing might seem safe, but it creates barriers between you and your listeners. Instead of connecting, you’re acting.

Here’s what performance looks like in presentations:

  • Memorizing and delivering a script word-for-word.
  • Copying someone else’s speaking style rather than finding your own.
  • Slipping into “presenter mode”—where you sound more like a character than yourself.

The problem? A performance can come across as stiff, rehearsed, or even insincere. Audiences don’t want a show; they want you.

Performing might seem safe, but it creates barriers between you and your listeners

What True Presenting Looks Like

Presenting is about conversation and connection. It’s showing up as the confident, authentic version of yourself, whether you’re speaking to one person across a table or to 1,000 people in an auditorium.

When you’re presenting, you:

  1. Focus on your audience, not your lines.
  2. Share stories, examples, and insights that feel natural.
  3. Let your personality come through—because that’s what makes you memorable.

Presenting or Performing: Try This Instead

Next time you prepare for a presentation, ask yourself: Am I presenting, or am I performing?

  • Skip the script. Outline key ideas instead.
  • Speak the way you’d naturally talk to a colleague or friend.
  • Practice being confident as you—not as a character.

When you present instead of perform, you build trust, connection, and impact. And that’s what great communication is really about.

Stop performing and start connecting. Discover how our coaching can help you communicate with genuine presence.