When Presentations Feel Like a Near-Death Experience

This week I had to give a presentation to suppliers for our Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme at the big retail company I work for. If you know anything about ESD, you’ll understand the importance of the work — it’s all about supporting small businesses, empowering local suppliers, and driving real transformation in South Africa. So, trust me, this was no small task.

If you think you’re the only one who gets tongue-tied, sweaty palms, and a tummy full of knots, please know you’re not alone. I went through all of that and more.

I don’t know if it’s past trauma or just plain anxiety, but yho, no ways, I almost died. You know when your chest feels like it’s closing in, your heart is pounding, and your mind is begging to run away? That was me. The biggest mistake I made was checking who was on the call. One glance at the list of suppliers and suddenly my nerves tripled. It wasn’t just “a presentation” anymore — it felt like I had the weight of a whole corporate reputation on my shoulders.

The Performance vs. The Feeling

Here’s the funny thing: everyone who attended said I did really well. They saw a calm, professional woman who delivered her points clearly. Meanwhile, inside I was battling an internal storm. Isn’t it wild how the outside never matches the inside when anxiety is in charge?

It made me think about how often we go through life underestimating ourselves. We convince ourselves we’re not good enough, while others are seeing brilliance, strength, and composure.

Learning to Breathe Through It

I’ve signed up for presentation training because I want to work on this. Not so much the content — I know my stuff — but the delivery, the breathing, the calming of nerves. I don’t want every presentation to feel like a fight for my life.

The truth is, being nervous doesn’t mean you’re not capable. It just means you care. And maybe that’s what I need to hold on to: the nerves are proof that I value what I do, and that’s not a weakness.

Lessons for Anyone Facing the Same Battle

Don’t overthink the audience. Focus on the message, not the names in the room.

Trust the preparation. If you know your content, half the battle is already won.

Remember: nerves don’t show as much as you think. People often see “confidence” where you feel chaos.

Invest in yourself. Training, coaching, or even practicing in front of a mirror can help.

So here’s to the next presentation — not without nerves, but hopefully with more grace, calm, and maybe a little less near-death drama. Kodwa no ways, anxiety can’t keep winning.