Episode #75: Making Yourself Clear

Why is clarity in business presentations so difficult?

Many managers and executives in Tokyo tell us they “want to be clear when presenting.” They want their ideas to be easy to follow and to have real impact in front of clients, teams, and the board.

The problem is not lack of data. The problem is how we design and deliver the message. Without a clear goal, audience focus, and confident delivery, even strong content can confuse people.

Mini-summary: Clarity in presentations is not automatic. It requires a clear purpose, focus on the audience, and strong delivery skills.

Before you touch PowerPoint, decide: What do you want the audience to do or feel?

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to Entertain so they feel positive about me and my organization?

• Do I want to Inform them with important data?

• Do I want to Convince or Impress them that our company is reliable and trustworthy?

• Do I want to Persuade or Inspire them to take action?

When you are clear on the purpose, you can choose the right structure, stories, and call to action. This is the foundation we build in our High Impact Presentations program in 東京 (Tokyo).

Mini-summary: Define one clear purpose—entertain, inform, convince, or persuade—before you design your slides or script.

In Japan, many presenters speak to the “average” listener and forget that every audience is different. For 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (foreign-capital / multinational companies), the audience mix can be complex.

Consider:

• Age and generation

• Gender balance

• Role and expertise: experts, beginners, supporters, critics, potential clients

• Cultural background: Japanese-only, mixed, or global

Avoid two common mistakes:

• Too simple: Dumbing down for a highly knowledgeable audience

• Too complex: Using heavy acronyms and specialist jargon that confuse people

In Dale Carnegie プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), we help you adjust your language, examples, and level of detail to match your listeners.

Mini-summary: Study who will be in the room and speak at their level—neither too simple nor too complex.

Most people “prepare” by fixing slides, not by speaking out loud. That is like “practicing on the client,” which we always tell salespeople never to do.

Rehearsal helps you:

• Check timing (not too long, not too short)

• Hear the rhythm of your words and adjust your phrasing

• Highlight key words for emphasis

• Avoid a flat, boring monotone

In High Impact Presentations, participants practice repeatedly, receive coaching, and see immediate improvement in clarity and confidence.

Mini-summary: Do at least one full rehearsal out loud. This simple habit will immediately improve your clarity and timing.

Some Japanese speakers believe they are at a disadvantage because Japanese is often delivered in a flat tone. In reality, small changes create big impact.

Two quick techniques:

1. Change pace:

   • Speed up for energy and excitement

   • Slow down to signal importance and let ideas sink in

2. Change power:

   • Add more volume and strength to key phrases

   • Use an audible whisper to draw attention

These tools work in Japanese and in English and help keep 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies) audiences engaged.

Mini-summary: Vary pace and power in your voice to escape monotone delivery and keep people listening.

Content alone is not enough. If your words and your delivery do not match, research shows that only about 7% of your message gets through.

To align message and delivery:

• Voice: Use clear volume, energy, and variety

• Eyes: Make eye contact with one person for about 6 seconds, then move on

• Face: Let your expression match the message—smile for good news, look concerned for bad news

• Hands and gestures: Keep your hands visible between chest and head height, use natural gestures, and avoid hiding them in pockets or behind your back

Many Japanese professionals avoid eye contact because it is not common in everyday conversation. But once you are on stage or at the front of a meeting, you are in a leadership role. Strong eye contact signals confidence and respect.

Mini-summary: When your voice, eyes, facial expressions, and gestures support your words, your message becomes more believable and memorable.

Nervous speakers often speed up and connect too many ideas without a break. The audience cannot follow and stops listening.

A simple pause:

• Gives the audience time to absorb key points

• Gives you time to breathe, think, and slow down

• Highlights important statements, just like bold text on a slide

In プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), we coach participants to use silence as a strategic tool, not something to fear.

Mini-summary: Use short pauses after important ideas so your audience can understand and remember them.

Dale Carnegie Training is a global leader in:

• リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training)

• 営業研修 (sales training)

• プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training)

• エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching)

• DEI研修 (DEI training)

In Tokyo, we have delivered High Impact Presentations for over 60 years to both 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies). Executives and managers learn how to clarify their purpose, design audience-focused messages, and deliver with presence and impact.

Mini-summary: Dale Carnegie Tokyo combines over 100 years of global experience with deep local understanding to help leaders communicate clearly and persuasively.

• Clarity starts with a clear purpose: entertain, inform, convince, or persuade.

• Study your audience and match your language and level of detail to their expertise.

• Rehearse out loud to improve timing, emphasis, and confidence.

• Use variety in voice, eye contact, facial expression, gestures, and pauses to make your message believable and memorable.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.