My Presentation Flopped - Here's Why

When I lost my voice at work (and what I found instead)

I was fumbling because they weren’t my words.

As part of the leadership team, I attended a monthly meeting with my colleagues. This time, I was presenting an update on a major overhaul to our performance management program.

Even though I was nervous to present, I felt genuinely confident about the changes ahead and the progress we’d made. I had hoped that confidence would shine through.

But instead of trusting my voice, I leaned on quotes from leadership books and borrowed language from articles, all cited, of course. I thought it would add credibility and make my presentation more compelling.

It didn’t.

Everything I said felt disjointed, stiff, and unnatural. Because it wasn’t really me speaking. I wasn’t grounded in my own voice, I was trying to meet expectations, perceived expectations.

Flop.

I’ve reflected on that meeting many times since. It taught me one of my most important lessons as a leader - don’t abandon your voice.

Trying to impress or “get it right” cost me clarity and connection. What I really needed was to trust that my perspective was enough and to speak from there.

Expectations are a wicked game.

Internally, we often set unrealistic bars or convince ourselves of stories about what others expect from us. Externally, the expectations others place on us are often more about them than about us.

At the heart of it all, you have to deepen your relationship with yourself. From that foundation, only you can choose how to show up, every day, in support of your voice and your truth.

You have to commit to never abandoning yourself. Because we need you.

Show up honestly.

Show up vulnerably.

Show up confidently.

Lead with authenticity.

To model what it looks like to be a whole-person leader at work is some of the most powerful work you can do, for yourself, and for everyone around you.

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Soul-Led Career is my transformational program. You will get to know yourself and your purpose deeply. You will integrate what you learn into your work. You will feel more clear about your career than you ever have. And you will know how to love what you do. All without having to overturn what you’ve already built.

A client who recently completed the program said, "This program is life altering in the best possible way! This is your sign to take the step and start this program today."

Just think, if you sign up this week, four months from now you’ll be in a reignited relationship with your career.

Schedule your consult here → Let's connect!

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Angela McKay, ACC, SHRM-SCP is a Certified Intuitive Career Coach, Former HR Executive, and Degreed Communication Expert. She is the author of “Daily Tarot Journal: using your Tarot and Oracle cards to open your perspective and intuition.”

Angela helps introspective, responsible, high-achievers to revive their careers without starting over. You've worked too hard for what you have to throw it away. Instead, she will help you to align your career to who you've become so that you can thrive in your nine-to-five.

In addition, Angela is a Certified Mind Rebel Coach and Certified Biddy Tarot Advisor. Her unique combination of skills allow for you to lean into her intuition until you strengthen and trust yours, a perfect partnership.

NOTE: All information in this article is provided for informational or entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as definitive direction or advice.