What Is a Presentation Coach?

Almost everyone has been tasked with giving a presentation, whether you’re a student or working in a corporate setting.

It’s a very common way of conveying information or a specific message to an audience, especially with the how common tools like Microsoft’s PowerPoint presentations or Google Slides are. Chances are, you’re no stranger to those resources. 

While some people have an easier time presenting information, most of us could use a little work on our presentation skills. From our confidence to our body language to our impromptu speaking skills, nobody is immune to mediocre presentation abilities. 

That’s where a presentation coach comes in. In our thorough guide, we’ll go over what a presentation coach is, what they do, how this kind of coaching works, and how to practice.

Let’s start with the basics.

What Is a Presentation Coach?

A presentation coach is someone who works with clients to work on their public speaking skills — specifically, their ability to present ideas coherently.

This type of coaching is great for anyone trying to work on their leadership skills or simply their ability to present information in a public setting.

You might invest in this kind of coach if you:

• Aren’t a native English speaker but have a presentation coming up
• Are responsible for selling or pitching a product to potential clients or customers
• Have an upcoming presentation (for school, work, or any other setting)
• Typically speak at events like conferences, staff meetings, or town hall meetings
• Are responsible for communicating complex information to general audiences who may not understand the technical jargon

What Does a Presentation Coach Do?

In a nutshell, a presentation coach’s job is to improve your presentation skills. 

These coaches will usually focus on three necessary skills for effective communication via presentations, including: 

• The actual presentation itself and the info or message the presenter is trying to convey (AKA the writing and presentation structure)
• How you give the speech or present the info
• How to engage the people you’re presenting to (AKA audience engagement)

How Does Presentation Coaching Work?

If you decide to explore presentation coaching, your presentation coach will usually start with an evaluation to get an idea of your existing skills. 

The coach will pinpoint specific weaknesses and strengths in your public speaking capabilities. They’ll probably also ask you about your personal goals. For example, you might want to focus on improving your body language or your impromptu speaking skills. It totally depends on the person and your aspirations as far as this type of coaching goes.   

If you have a presentation coming up, your coach will take a closer look at your actual presentation, including the information you’re trying to convey. It’s likely that they’ll also evaluate the purpose of your speech to make sure you’re on track for success. 

Your coach will also analyze things like your mannerisms. Do you involuntarily sway back and forth when you’re nervous? Or maybe you stand as still as a statue without using any body language. These are just examples of common pitfalls during presentations. 

Even things like your posture can affect the delivery of your speech. An audience tends to lose trust in the presenter if they seem nervous or unsure of themselves. 

In the same vein, you’ll want to make sure you’re engaging your audience. You don’t want them to lose focus, especially if the message you’re trying to convey is important. Your coach will help with this too.

For example, you might have a habit of monologuing, where you drone on and on. This type of coach will help you avoid this and provide you with tips and tools to make sure you don’t slip back into that habit. 

How to Find a Good Presentation Coach

Finding a good presentation coach who’s the right fit for you can be a bit tricky.

To find out if a coach is right for you, consider asking prospective coaches these eight questions: 

1. How would you describe your working style?
2. Do you have expertise in [the specific area you’re looking to make improvements in]?
3. Do you offer a free first session?
4. What are your methods or framework for presentation coaching?
5. How do you usually deliver negative feedback or criticisms?
6. What types of exercises do you use during presentation coaching?
7. What’s your educational and professional background?
8. Do you have any references I can speak to?

Take the time to get to know the presentation coach a little better. It’s worth spending a little extra time out of your day to make sure they’ll be a good resource to improve your public speaking skills. Although it may seem tedious, you won’t regret it. 

However, even when you ask these questions to determine if a coach is the right fit, they might not be accessible due to their costly services.  

How Much Does a Presentation Coach Cost?

Presentation coaching can be very expensive. For multiple classes, a presentation coach might charge anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. 

That’s because this kind of coach usually charge per hour, and it’s by no means cheap. Hourly rates could be around $125 per hour or more. Some coaches offer special packages that run a couple of thousand dollars.

Unfortunately, this type of coaching is often inaccessible to the general public. Some coaches operate using a sliding scale (so that the cost depends on how much you make), but generally, presentation coaching isn’t affordable unless you have a significant amount of disposable income.

If you’re looking for a free presentation coach, check out Yoodli and its presentation coaching services — completely free of charge. 

How to Practice Presentation Coaching (For Free)

Because most presentation coaching is unaffordable, using an AI presentation coach like Yoodli can be an easy solution. 

Yoodli uses AI technology to analyze a user’s speech for areas of improvement. These personalized insights include metrics like: 

• Your speech pacing
• How many “weak” words you use (and what they are)
• Your body language (like facial expressions and hand gestures)
• Your filler word usage
• And many other individualized analytics based on your speech and speaking patterns

How to Get Instant Presentation Coach Analytics

All you do to get these instant analytics is upload a video — or visit Yoodli directly to record one on the platform — and let the AI presentation coach take it from there. Once you’re done speaking, you’ll get access to all the specific insights to help you improve and build on your presentation skills. 

You can upload any type of video, including a Zoom Meeting or a Google Meet. If you’re not sure how, it’s very simple to learn how to record Google Meet.

In fact, Yoodli is tailored to people looking to advance their public speaking and presentation confidence as an AI coach. 

Yoodli is a nice option not only because it’s free, but also because you can get these analytics without anyone knowing, in a totally judgment-free zone. You’ll be able to present your presentation without fear of judgment. You can also track your progress over time and take advantage of individualized exercises designed just for you.

You can learn more about Yoodli as a presentation coach from co-founder Varun Puri below: 

Remember: A good presenter has a plethora of good habits and tools to deliver the best presentation they can. 

A successful presenter will often make use of: 

• A clear, expert PowerPoint or other slide deck
• Reliable, relevant data within the presentation 
• A confident and authoritative tone when presenting
• Their understanding of the topic, including the purpose of the presentation
• Strong audience engagement through things like questions and open discussions about your topic

Why Is Presentation Coaching Important?

Taking advantage of a presentation coach is important because it allows you to build on your existing skills by providing you with useful tools and actionable feedback, and tips for improvement. 

Being able to present information in a clear, concise way with confidence is a valuable skill in the workplace, whether or not you’re in a position of leadership. The skills you reap through this kind of coaching will last a lifetime and can be used in anything from corporate presentations to sales pitches to university presentations to everyday conversation. 

At the end of the day, effective communication is critical to your life, no matter your occupation. Even the most seasoned, confident public speaker can advance their skills through this type of coaching. 

There’s truly no downside to presentation coaching, especially if you’re using a free presentation coach like Yoodli. 

The Takeaway

Presentation coaching can elevate your existing skills and take them to the next level. You’ll learn how to confidently present information in a clear, effective, and engaging way so that the audience can best understand your message and the purpose of the presentation. 

Presentation coaching is for anyone — students, people in sales, CEOs and other types of leaders, corporate employees, or people simply looking to better their public speaking skills. Gain a new expertise in effective communication with a coach like Yoodli.