How Much Energy Is “Too Much” When Presenting—and How Do Executives Find the Right Level?

During a recent training session for 60 managers, I received a surprising mix of survey comments:
“You are too loud.”
“You are too high energy.”

The room was large—ten tables with six people each—which meant I needed to project with strength and deliver a motivational opening session. The client’s brief was clear: many managers had lost their mojo during Covid, and the first session needed to lift the organization’s energy.

Out of 60 participants, perhaps two or three felt overwhelmed by the intensity. The remaining feedback—“motivating,” “powerful,” “enthusiastic”—showed that the energy level hit the mark for the majority.

Mini-Summary: High energy may not please everyone, but when the goal is revitalization, the majority’s needs outweigh the minority’s discomfort.

Yes—but only when the energy level clashes with the purpose of the talk. If the brief requires firing up an audience, the presenter must become the ignition source. In motivational settings, you cannot lift people to 100% unless you go to 150%.

In contrast, a typical business presentation—common in 日本企業 and 外資系企業 in 東京—rarely calls for sustained high-intensity delivery. Technical discussions, problem-solving examples, case studies, or leadership lessons require a more balanced set of energy outputs.

Short, intentional bursts of intensity may be necessary, but they should last seconds, not minutes.

Mini-Summary: Energy must match intention. Motivation calls for intensity; business insights call for modulation.

The answer lies in understanding audience, context, and personal brand.

1. Audience Expectations

• A room full of technical specialists may prefer calm, measured delivery.

• A room of salespeople expects enthusiasm and conviction.

• A mixed executive group values confidence without theatrics.

2. Purpose of the Talk

Ask: “Why am I speaking?”
If the mission is to inspire change, intensity is essential. If the goal is to explain a process, high energy may feel excessive.

3. Professional Brand

Your delivery must align with your role.
For example:

• A trainer or salesperson delivering with low energy is incongruent.

• A CFO speaking like a motivational coach may confuse stakeholders.

Mini-Summary: The right energy level aligns with the audience, the objective, and your professional identity.

Most business professionals default to monotone delivery—a guaranteed method for losing attention in today’s phone-distracted world. Energy variation is essential because, as Professor Albert Mehrabian’s research showed, delivery must match content for the audience to remain fully engaged.

Use Energy Like Classical Music

• Crescendos (high energy) spotlight key ideas

• Lulls (low energy) create contrast and emotional space

• The interplay keeps the audience alert and connected

All-high or all-low delivery fails. Contrast is what makes each part meaningful.

Match Energy to Message

• Use passion when delivering inspiring ideas

• Use calm confidence when discussing reflective or serious points

Mini-Summary: Effective presenters use contrast—varying energy levels to match content—rather than staying at one volume or intensity.

Mehrabian’s findings from the 1960s remain even more relevant today. When voice tone and facial expression do not align with the message, audiences become confused.
In the past, they would simply tune out.
Today, they reach for their phones—instantly escaping into digital distraction.

Alignment between voice, energy, facial expression, and message is now a non-negotiable element of プレゼンテーション研修 in Tokyo and globally.

Mini-Summary: Congruency between message and delivery keeps the audience focused—and off their phones.

For most executive presentations, the winning formula is:

1. Start with moderate energy to establish presence

2. Use strategic bursts of high energy to emphasize critical points

3. Return to calmer, reflective tones for analysis or insights

4. Close with a stronger lift to create momentum

This mirrors how top speakers worldwide—including Dale Carnegie professionals—balance conviction with credibility.

Mini-Summary: The most effective presenters blend calm, clarity, and controlled bursts of energy to keep audiences engaged and inspired.

• High energy is appropriate when the purpose is motivation, but disruptive when misaligned with context.

• Audience, topic, and personal brand determine the right intensity level.

• Energy variation—not constant intensity—is the true key to engagement.

• Congruent delivery (voice, face, energy) prevents distraction and increases credibility

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.