Senior Executives on Stage — Lessons from a Presentation “Blood Sport”

Every year, senior executives compete in a high-stakes, two-minute presentation contest to win votes. For trainers and business professionals, these moments reveal the state of executive communication skills and offer lessons for all of us.

• Hand Gestures:
  Many had no idea how to use their hands. Gestures were hidden at waist level, behind backs, or used aggressively (pointing, fists).
  👉 Fix: Keep gestures visible above waist, open palms, and limit each gesture to max 15 seconds.

• Eye Contact:
  Fake scanning of the room instead of engaging individuals. True impact comes from focusing on one person, creating a ripple effect across nearby listeners.
  👉 Fix: Engage 10 people per minute directly.

• Voice Power:
  Weak volume and trailing off at the end. Some stood too far from the microphone, losing energy and credibility.
  👉 Fix: Project strongly, end with a crescendo, and position correctly with the mic.

• Body Positioning:
  Poor foot angles led to ignoring one-third of the audience.
  👉 Fix: Keep feet balanced at 90 degrees to the audience.

• Reading from Notes:
  Even a prominent president read from handheld notes in a two-minute speech.
  👉 Fix: Memorize or use keyword prompts; never bury your face in paper.

Despite years of global experience, none used storytelling to captivate. Stories are the fastest route to attention, memorability, and persuasion.

👉 Fix: Blend career anecdotes and lessons learned into short talks.

• Present with professional gestures, strong voice, and real eye contact.

• Finish with strength, not a fade-out.

• Avoid reliance on notes—use structured preparation instead.

• Always incorporate storytelling to make your talk memorable.

Leaders are guides who must persuade teams and stakeholders. Poor delivery undermines trust. In today’s hyper-competitive market, persuasive power is not optional—it is essential.

If delivering convincing, professional talks feels beyond your current skill set, get training now. Dale Carnegie Tokyo offers proven programs in leadership, sales, and presentations to transform hesitation into confidence.

Founded in 1912 in the U.S., Dale Carnegie Training has empowered executives and teams worldwide for over 100 years. Our Tokyo office, operating since 1963, continues to support Japanese and multinational companies with presentation mastery and leadership development.