Presenting with: Dr Neryl East CSP
We caught up with former journalist and now acclaimed speaker, credibility expert and author Dr Neryl East CSP for her tips on delivering effective presentations.
Tell us about your career to date
As a TV and radio journalist I interviewed everyone from national leaders and celebrities to disaster survivors.
I then spent more than a decade managing issues in the volatile world of government, including the fall-out from one of Australia’s biggest corruption scandals.
These days I am a trusted adviser of leaders and communicators who are ready to impact the future. I speak to audiences across Australia and Asia, helping them communicate with clarity and influence so they build credible leaders and connected teams.
I am a Certified Speaking Professional. In 2018 I served as the NSW Chapter president of Professional Speakers Australia and in 2022 was its national president.
I have a PhD in Journalism and am the author of five books including an Amazon best-seller on media and reputation.
Your favourite or most memorable speaking experience?
There have been many highlights but top of the list is being an announcer at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. I was at the hockey stadium, where my voice was heard by 20,000 people in the stands each day and a TV audience of many millions.
What makes a good presentation?
Being an outstanding presenter is so much more than pushing content at people. After all, content is everywhere. There's more information freely available than anyone could feasibly consume in a lifetime.
So, when you present you must move beyond simply "informing" and truly connect with your audience. They need to see you're an expert in your subject, but it's essential they also recognise your human side. You need to create rapport through relatable stories, warmth and humour.
It's connection over perfection, every time!
What are your top tips for presenting at a peak level?
Always focus first on the audience. What do they need from you and how are they likely to be viewing the issue or topic you're discussing?Frame it through their eyes.
Be clear on what you need to say. Go for clarity, not complexity. People today are overwhelmed with so many concerns; they're not necessarily listening to you. Make it easy for them by joining the dots on your key points and using simple, relatable language. Stick to a solid structure rather than random waffling.
Prepare well and rehearse thoroughly - not to be robotic, but so that in the moment, you can focus on connecting rather than thinking about your next point.
Check in with your own state. If you're feeling anxious about the presentation, do whatever you need to do to calm and centre yourself. For me, that's taking five breaths right down deep into my abdomen. For the time that you're delivering, be fully there - not distracted or thinking about your own nerves.
How do you relax outside of work?
I love live music, so enjoy getting out to see a band or kicking back listening to some jazz. I confess to being an Aussie pub rock fan from a long way back, so I'm first in line for tickets when bands like Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil decide to tour. I've also dabbled in musical theatre for years and occasionally still tread the boards for my local amateur theatre group.
Dr Neryl East CSP is a keynote speaker, facilitator, trainer and coach with a focus on developing credible leaders and connected teams. She works with senior leaders to help them communicate authentically and clearly in very high-pressure situations. Her most popular keynote topics are:
Ignite Your Influence
Harness the Power of AI without Killing Your Credibility
The New Way of Leadership
Leading in the Spotlight
Be Extraordinary, One Choice at a Time.
She’s an authority on local government communication and works with clients in defence, emergency services, construction, finance, aged care, education and many more sectors.
Visit her website.
Connect with Neryl on Linkedin.
For coaching and workshops on delivering effective presentations, please contact our team today.