Work presentation - just can’t do it

[driftingintheair]

I’ve been in a new job for nearly 5 months and despite being an Admin position (a very specific type of admin - not generic) I am in a team that comprises the SLT, Directors, a PA, and a few other very senior staff - then there’s me. In the pecking order of things I am at the lowest end of the organisation.

The organisation is spread across 4 sites and I am based at one by myself whereas everyone else on my team is at another site. I’ve only seen my manager in person 6 times since I started, and in an average week I might get one email from her, if that. So, I don’t know her that well and I’m not sure how she will react to my suggestion.

In January it was announced that people in my team have to give an 8 minute presentation to the SLT - about your role, what’s happening, challenges and improvements you are making etc. Fair enough I guess but I simply cannot stand up and give an 8-minute presentation, even if I put a PowerPoint together to help me. Never in my working life have I been told to give such a thing to anyone, let alone the SLT.

I am happy to put a PowerPoint together to send them to read, but I simply cannot stand up in front of people. Eight minutes is a long time when you have never done this before. I have no career aspirations in this organisation so I don’t see it as an opportunity to get my profile out there etc. I realise some people would love this sort of thing if you are looking to climb the career ladder but I’m not.

DH was initially ‘oh it will be fine,’ but he’s seen how stressed I am about it and has conceded that the rest of my team are very senior staff who are used to this sort of thing, whereas as I am an admin nobody and am horrified. DH is well used to giving presentations to hundreds of people so he wouldn’t be fazed in the slightest, so he said talk to my manager about it and see if you can come to a compromise.

I don’t want my manger to think I’m pathetic - I had review feedback last month where she said I am doing ‘a fantastic job’ etc, so this is absolutely not me being lazy. The thought of standing up for so long actually makes me rather resign.

How can I professionally word this to my manager so that the SLT would hopefully compromise but still get the information they would like to hear about?

What do you mean you cannot? Why not? You’re just nervous or there’s a physical reason?

You seem to have a really low opinion of yourself and your role, which if it works closely with the SLT cannot be right, you must be important and good at your job if that’s the type of feedback you’re getting…

I wonder if you’ll feel better if you realise 8 mins is probably a maximum. If you just stand up and explain your job, what changes you’ve made and anything that’s coming up at work for you it’ll probably take a few mins and then you can sit down. You don’t need to do a PowerPoint, everyone hates them. If you want to rely more on something written why not make a one side of A4 handout with the stuff they’ve asked for and then stand up and briefly just introduce yourself and mention what’s in the handout. Job done. Would that be better?

Practice practice practice!! If you can do it at home for your DH you can do it to your colleagues.

Propanol from your doctor will stop nerves and shaking.

If you have never been asked to do this kind of thing before, I think it would be absolutely fair enough to explain it to your manager. They may not have realised if everyone else is used to it. Say that you would need some training, or else would need an alternative way to deliver the info e.g. as slides or a report. If they offer training, then fine - my guess would be they will just accept it in a different way.

If you were in my team I’d want you to speak to me about this and I’d be happy to look at alternatives on this occasion - could you co-present, or record on Powtoon, something like that? If this was an ongoing requirement of the role, I would provide you with training on presentation skills and opportunities to practise in a less formal setting though - it’s one of those things that becomes more bearable the more you do it. Many of us will never actively enjoy it, but we learn techniques to help us get through it.

Remember, it’s ok to admit you’re nervous - the SLT will (if they’re a decent, professional bunch) will understand how nerve wracking it can be for their colleagues to present to them, and they’ll be rooting for you. Good luck 😊

I’ve heard it said that most people would rather die than give a presentation. It’s never bothered me at all, but it does seem to be a common phobia.

But you’ve known about this since January. Why haven’t you either taken some training, or raised your concerns before? It’s a useful skill. I’d really try and get over it if you can. Good luck.

Do you want to get to a point where you can do it, OP?

or is it a flat no from you?

If it's not in your job description or something which could be expected as part of the role then just don't do it. It can be a real phobia and I'm not sure what the benefit of the presentation would be for anyone else. Surely they know what your job is?

Simply explain to your line manager that the mere idea of a presentation is massively stressful to you.

I manage a large team and I’d not expect someone in an admin role to do this. I realise it’s a really scary prospect for some and I can think immediately of a couple of my admin team for whom this would be anathema.

There’s absolutely no way I’d get someone in a junior role to do something that stressed them out when it’s completely unnecessary to the post.

I would offer to do it on their behalf or find some other way around it.

One option could be to do some work on the content, things you want to say about the topic, then raise this with the line manager as a concern and seek support and/or to do things differently from their usual approach.

eg: presentation training, help to prepare from your manager or another colleague, sharing a short set of slides or document in advance of the meeting then taking questions from the team about it (instead of ‘presenting’ it).

Or yes, not being required to do it!

it’s absolutely ok to start your presentation with “ I don’t normally have to do this as part of my job and I’m really, really nervous so forgive me if I stutter, or talk too fast” or whatever you’re worried about. It breaks the ice and we’re all human. I still do it sometimes and I enjoy presenting and always get told I present really well.

One of my staff is very nervous of presentations and I’ve supported her to start small with familiar groups. Have a chat with your line manager, I completely understand why you’d be nervous. If you have to do it, ask if you can present sitting down and say the presentation out loud several times at home and then write a script for the first couple of lines. I used to hate presentations but if you do this enough your brain will just remember what to say once the first couple of sentences are over and done with. I find PowerPoint easier as it reminds me what I need to say, but practice and do what works for you. I hope it goes ok op.

I get how you feel, I have to do a fair few presentations at work and hate doing them, but I’ve accepted it’s part of the role. I would definitely explain to your manager how you are feeling and ask if there is another way to submit the information needed. Or if you can present together with someone else?

This

They have different job titles to you, they’re not gods or monsters. You are massively overthinking this.

Do two minutes if you want but it really shouldn’t be that big a deal.

Completely understand your reaction to presenting- I hate it too but it’s required with my role so I might do one a year. I practice reading out loud 3 nights in a row before presenting which does help. I’m autistic and have suffered with social anxiety so really do understand your fear! X

If I was your line manager, I would be supporting you to prepare for this but would make it clear you had to do it. While I understand you are terrified, it's a reasonable request. The fact that the people in the room are senior makes it particularly terrifying but they are in the end just a bunch of colleagues.

Presentation sounds like something very formal. Instead, think of it as chatting to a small group of people about your role. A simple way to make a presentation is to find a song or YouTube video that sets the scene or mood in a light-hearted way eg 'Walking on sunshine', 'I don't like Mondays', 'My Way', 'Happy' (slide 1), then role, priorities, challenges, improvements as prompt words - no other text. That would leave you with just two minutes for each section.

I hate them as well but accept they are part of my role.
I find PowerPoint useful as people look at the slides at not you. But most presentations are via Teams now so much less scary.

Ask to sit down if you do have to do it. One slide per idea. Who you are and your role. Challenges. Improvements. Don't aim for 8 minutes. You won't be expected to have as much to say as SLT.

If allowable, you could record yourself talking to the slides, play that and then have an Any questions part at the end.

Thanks all for the differing opinions.

Presenting is absolutely nothing to do with my role and never will be. I’m 50 and have never been required to give a presentation since my school days. I’d actually rather resign than do this - this I how strongly I feel about it.

Write a few notes, have a practice infront of Dh. It'll be fine.

Also, there is no such thing as being able to have training on giving a presentation in this organisation.

Can you do it on a virtual call. That way you can read from a script a bit less obviously, especially if you have two screens.

Training doesn't have to mean formal training. Your line manager coaching you is training.