Presenting with Presence: Escape from Keyboard Jail

This recent coaching client was a seasoned presenter – with a real passion for his subject. But he was sabotaging himself: For this presentation, he was seated at the conference table, eyes glued to the screen, talking to his laptop. And he was getting lost.

“I need to connect with my audience – but I can’t seem to get unstuck from my computer!”

This recent coaching client was a seasoned presenter – with a real passion for his subject. But he was sabotaging himself: For this presentation, he was seated at the conference table, eyes glued to the screen, talking to his laptop. And he was getting lost.

Have you ever experienced this? You want to work the room, build relationship with your audience and inspire them to action. Instead, you find yourself in “keyboard jail” – your passion locked away behind the bars of your own computer. Or your notes. Or the lectern.

We’ve developed some techniques you’ll want to use for planning your escape…

Top Tips for Escaping from Keyboard Jail and Owning the Entire Room

1. On Your Feet: One of the easiest keys to freedom is simply standing up! You’ll be 100% more visible, better able to command the room and use body language to full effect.
   Try it right now: Stand at your desk with your laptop in front of you, tip the screen all the way back for visibility, and then use the trackpad. Most people don’t realize how easy it is to work a laptop from a standing position. Sure, you won’t want to compose a long email from there, but running a presentation is a piece of cake. Taller presenters may want to raise the laptop to a more comfortable height. Office supply stores sell laptop risers for this purpose, but resting it on a stack of papers or an empty FedEx box often works just as well.
2. Peek & Speak: To avoid losing eye contact with your audience while driving your laptop, don’t speak down to your screen. Instead, glance down momentarily at the screen in silence (judicious use of pause conveys confidence), and then make eye contact with someone before speaking again – as if this next point is just for them.
3. Radioactive Laptop: I tell my coaching clients to think of their laptops as radioactive – you don’t want to stand too close for even a second longer than necessary! Unless you’re actively using the keyboard or screen at that precise moment, always break away from your computer. Always. The only time to be behind your laptop is the split second you’re touching it.
4. Plan Your Trip: Look over your presentation ahead of time and identify a handful of good “points of departure” when you can leave the table – longer stretches when you know you won’t have to touch the keyboard. Then pick an ambitious destination: I’ve got enough time in this section to walk all the way to the other end of the room and deliver my message directly to the CEO.

Enjoy your freedom!