In this episode of the Made For More podcast, host Ally Nitschke is joined by Michelle Bowden, a presentation skills expert with over 26 years of experience helping leaders, professionals, and teams communicate with impact.

Michelle shares why presentation skills should be seen as essential "power skills," not just soft skills, and offers practical advice on overcoming nerves, structuring a message for maximum engagement, and connecting authentically with any audience.

From her unique "whites of the eyes" technique for building rapport to common pitfalls like relying on a "thank you" slide, Michelle reveals simple yet powerful strategies to elevate your presentations and ensure your message truly lands.

Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this episode is full of actionable tips to help you speak with confidence, clarity, and influence.

00:03:25 Presentation skills as a necessity.

00:04:04 Presentation skills as power skills.

00:08:09 Nervousness vs. Excitement Energy.

00:12:05 Persuasion blueprint linguistic patterns.

00:17:35 Eye contact for connection.

00:20:25 Audience engagement in presentations.

00:22:29 The law of reciprocity.

00:28:25 Ending presentations effectively.

00:30:30 Meeting effectiveness and purpose.

00:35:00 Mood is contagious.

Connect with Ally Nitschke

Madeformore.com.au

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Connect with Michelle Bowden

michellebowden.com.au

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn