When you associate presenting with stress and anxiety, it’s easy to think that being as comfortable as possible is the right goal. But all too often, too much comfort actually creates a bigger problem. In this post, Pete explores the sweet spot between stress and comfort.
For info about how we can help your team find that sweet spot when they need it most, check out our Shortlist Interview Support here.
I was at an event recently where several presentations reminded me of a lesson I’ve shared with countless interview and presentation teams: sometimes comfort isn’t your friend. In fact, sometimes you should intentionally pursue a little discomfort.
What I saw were presenters set up behind a podium, while two others sat comfortably in chairs. And every one of them was flat. Low energy. Hard to stay with. You could feel the audience drifting—people checking their phones, multitasking, zoning out.
They were too comfortable, and comfort has a cost: it drains energy.
I’m sure the event organizers were trying to help. They probably recognized the speakers were nervous and thought, “Let’s make them as comfortable as possible.” Podium. Chairs. Everything easy.
But comfort reduced their effectiveness. It softened their presence. Their delivery never rose to a level that could hold attention or keep the room awake.
If you’re leading a conversation, don’t hide behind the podium. Walk the stage. Make yourself visible to the whole room. Movement naturally boosts energy for both you and your audience.
If you’re seated on a panel, that’s fine—but seated speakers need to consciously add more vocal energy than they think they need. The simplest way to do that is to:
That dynamic change is what keeps attention alive. Audiences drift when speakers stay the same for too long.
We don’t want presenters to be comfortable. We want them to be alive. A small amount of stress—just enough to stay alert—elevates energy, presence, and engagement.
So whether you’re speaking, moderating, or helping others prepare, remember: comfort is not the goal. A touch of discomfort keeps you energized, and that energy keeps your audience with you.
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