It’s a Matter of Trust: Why Authenticity is the Real Presentation Superpower

Forget polished scripts and perfect slides, authenticity is your most underrated (and unbeatable) presentation edge.

We’ve all seen it, the slide deck with thirty bullet points, the speaker glued to their notes, and that lifeless "Any Questions?" screen wrapping it all up. Sound familiar? Now contrast that with a moment when a speaker shared something personal, a story, a struggle, even a cheeky laugh, and you found yourself leaning in. That moment? That’s trust being built. And it’s where real influence begins.

Clients and individuals always tell me they love how Bulmer Group coaches bring out the authenticity in people. So why then are so many leaders and presenters doing their best to not be authentically powerful communicators?

The Missing Piece: You

For decades, we’ve mistaken professionalism for polish, and polish for perfection. But in doing so, we’ve pushed aside the most compelling element of any presentation — the presenter.

We obsess over getting the words exactly right, designing the perfect slide, and anticipating every question. But while we're focused on the deck, we forget to connect. And audiences? They can feel it.

Too many leaders are playing it safe, hiding behind scripts, relying on AI-generated slides, and delivering carefully curated phrases that just don’t sound like them. The result? A message that might tick all the corporate boxes but leaves the room emotionally flat.

The Real Trust Builder? Story, Not Script.

Want to inspire? Tell your story, not your script.

We’re not saying “wing it.” What we are saying is this: know your key messages, then say them in your own words. Not the comms team’s. Not ChatGPT’s. Yours.

Bring your personality to the table. Your quirks. Your values. Your energy. Your humour. Because these are the traits that not only grab attention, but they also keep it. And that’s the difference between a good presentation and one that moves people to action.

Here's What Works:

#1 Cut the clutter. Ditch excessive slides and walls of text.

#2 Forget being word perfect. Aim for real, not rehearsed.

#3 Tell stories. Then tell them well, with authenticity and not auto-pilot.

#4 Trust your voice. If you’re the expert, sound like it and not like someone reading a script.

#5 And most of all, let people see you enjoying the moment.

Because the truth is: people engage with people, not PowerPoints.

Leaders, Take Note

If you're asking your team to present, trust them to show up as themselves. If you're presenting yourself, don’t leave your personality at the door. Otherwise, you’re just ticking boxes and trust doesn’t come in bullet points.

As Billy Joel once sang, it really is a matter of trust.

So, if you want a competitive advantage, one that builds connection and long-term influence, please click below to read the full article:

It is a Matter of Trust.pdf

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Lead with heart. Speak from the gut. And give your audience a reason to believe in you.