Here's how you can enhance your confidence when presenting to a large online audience.

I once presented to a Zoom audience of 1000 people. It was a daunting experience at first. To enhance my confidence I did the following: - I thoroughly prepared my content and practiced my delivery beforehand. That allowed me to maintain eye contact during most of the speech. - A dry run to familiarize myself with zoom and its features was also important in reducing technical anxiety. I had a quiet, distraction-free environment, and ensured my setup—lighting, camera, and sound—was professional. - During the presentation, I engaged with my audience by asking interactive questions which further boosted my confidence. Finally, I focused on delivering value rather than perfection. The audience is there to learn and not judge.

Be thoroughly familiar with your material. Confidence comes from a deep understanding of the topic. Anticipate potential questions and prepare answers, ensuring you can handle any challenges during the presentation.

Practice your presentation out loud, simulating the actual event. This helps you become comfortable with the flow, reduces nervousness, and helps identify areas where you may need more clarity or emphasis.

After drafting your presentation, take out time to rehearse. If needed, add notes to help as prompts on important or relevant things which you want to ensure are mentioned. Time the presentation to help ensure you can finish within the allotted timeframe. Always allow time for questions and pre-empt a list of common questions. Be able to answer them, confidently. Stay focused on the agreed agenda and outcome of the presentation, then aim not to deviate from them. If you don't like the sound of your own voice, recording your practices will help remove fear, and any uncomfortable feeling. Rehearse with a colleague to gain early feedback and help remove unnecessary elements. Tailor the presentation cadence to the intended audience.

“And of course, people are only interested in themselves if a story is not about the hearer he will not listen” No matter how tech geek you become, you must have to pretend like you have been in the shoes of the hearer, atleast for a while! You can’t fake it in front of people! Have you ever thought of the reason why Motivational speakers have suddenly started getting the attentions like celebrities! Why shows like TedX have became a sensation for the youth. It’s because they give you an insight into how they overcame their obstacles, allowing you to learn and apply their experience to your own life. I personally love to listen to people who are real in life and on stage as well! Their story must resonate the power of learning and thriving

Being humble and being yourself goes a long way. Interactions with the audience are essential to relate to audience. Make sure you share personal stories that could help connect. Create a staple phrase in which a reply from the audience is expected. Use your staple phrase when you feel you need to regain their attention. Be careful with how you present yourself since the audience will sense any level of arrogance. Present yourself as an expert that it is still learning from the topic together with the audience. Good luck

Be mindful of your tone and body posture (even if sat behind TEAMS). Where appropriate consider using breakout rooms, polls or pop-quiz's to promote engagement. If on TEAMS, use your camera and encourage others to have it on too- let them see you, not just hear you. Consider adding pauses for questions at key points to validate understanding, ask questions and gain feedback from the audience. Use stories or examples which the audience can relate to in their personal/ business life. Set clear & friendly expectations around engagement during the session whilst addressing the benefits they will get from doing so.

Keep your audience engaged by asking questions, using polls, or responding to their comments in real time. Building interaction makes the session more dynamic and helps reduce anxiety by shifting the focus from yourself to the audience.

Ensure that your technology—camera, microphone, lighting, and internet connection—are set up for smooth delivery. Test everything beforehand to avoid technical hiccups, which can be distracting and affect your confidence.

Mentally picture a successful presentation before you begin. Visualization techniques can reduce anxiety and help you stay focused and calm, setting the tone for a confident performance.

Presenting to a large online audience can be daunting, but I’ve learned that managing nerves isn’t just about knowing your material—it’s about knowing yourself. Yoga and meditation, particularly breath work, have been key in calming my nerves. Staying present helps quiet those negative thoughts—the “visitor” that says, “you can’t do this.” I acknowledge these thoughts with kindness, saying, “Not today, thank you.” This allows me to focus on why I’m here and what I want to achieve. Prepare thoroughly, stay present, and be kind to yourself. When things don’t go as planned, take a breath and move on. It’s a long journey to find what keeps your anxiety at bay but I can say with confidence that in the long term, it’s so worth it!