How do you prepare for a presentation?

Of course there’s thinking about your audience, your stories, and your key message. Then there’s structuring your ideas into an impactful talk. But what do you do just before you step out to meet your audience?

Here’s what I do before I deliver a workshop:

• I check I have everything I need. That usually means some notes, a pen, and my tea.
• I check the tech I’ll be using.
• I take a deep breath and remind myself I know what I’m doing. 😉

For stage performances, I skip the first two steps and spend more time on my breathing to get present. For me that’s by far the most important thing: to be present.

What do you do just before you meet your audience? How do you make sure you’re present with them?