How to start strong and speak with confidence—even when you’re nervous
TLDR Nerves before a presentation are completely normal—even for experienced presenters. One big thing that helps is having a reliable structure so you always know exactly how to start. In this post, I share the Sasuga! Introduction Structure—five simple elements (Who, What, Why, How, Wow!) that help you make a great first impression, engage your audience, and feel more confident every time.
Has your mind ever gone blank when giving a presentation? It’s horrible, isn’t it?
Presentations are high stakes. Your credibility, your ideas, your leadership are all on show. And for many business professionals, especially when presenting in a second language, that pressure is intense.
In this post, I’m going to share with you what actually happens when nerves hit, what you can do about it, and a simple structure that will help you start strong in every presentation—even if English isn’t your first language.
The day I went blank on camera
The first time I took presentation skills training back in my corporate days, I was so nervous. I had to stand in front of the group and speak. The whole room was staring at me.
And, suddenly, my mind went blank. It was awful.
Then, after what seemed like ages, I somehow managed to start talking again.
There was a big clunky video camera standing in the corner of the room that had captured the whole thing.
The trainer said, “Right, let’s watch that again, shall we?”
It had been embarrassing enough the first time. And now I was going to have to watch this painful experience again on a big screen in front of everybody.
But an odd thing happened…
What I saw in the replay was that I paused. And then, after a brief moment, I continued speaking.
Somehow, I actually looked confident!
I realized that what people saw on the outside was very different from what I felt on the inside.
That experience made me think, “Hmm, maybe I can do this presentation thing…”
More than 20 years later, I’ve given countless presentations and coached thousands of business professionals to speak with more clarity, confidence, and impact.
Why nerves happen—and why that’s okay
Almost everyone I talk to about presentations says they get nervous. They think they’re unusual—but it’s completely normal. It’s physiological.
It goes back to our prehistoric brain. When we stand up in front of a group, our brain perceives a threat—will I be accepted?—and triggers the fight-or-flight response. Your heart pounds. You’re short of breath. Your mind goes blank.
Sound familiar?
I go into much more detail on the causes, the symptoms, and what to do about each one in my self-study course Speak Like An Expert Online. But the single biggest thing that reduces nerves? Having a structure you can rely on—so you always know exactly how to start.
The Sasuga! Introduction Structure
When you start strong, you make a good impression on your audience—and you feel more confident. You set yourself up for success in the rest of your presentation.
A typical problem I see especially with Japanese professionals presenting in English is that they dive into details without clarifying the big picture—and as a result, they lose their global audience early on.
Before you even begin to speak, the people in your meeting or your audience are already asking themselves questions. Who is this person? What are they talking about? Why should I listen? When can I check my messages?
You can answer all of those questions—and immediately engage your audience—with what I call the Sasuga! Introduction Structure. Five simple elements: Who, What, Why, How, and Wow!
Who—If people don’t already know you, introduce yourself briefly to build connection and credibility. For example, I usually mention my 10 years with McKinsey Japan when I’m speaking with business professionals for the first time because that’s meaningful for them.
What—Tell them exactly what you’re going to talk about. Even if it seems obvious to you, it may not be obvious to them. This gets everyone on the same page.
Why—Most presenters miss this and it’s so powerful. Your audience’s brain is naturally asking “what’s in it for me?”—so tell them. What will they understand, decide, or be able to do by the end? Note: “I want your buy-in” is not a benefit for them. That’s a benefit for you.
How—List your main topics, your timing, and whether they can ask questions during or at the end. For example: “I’ll cover three topics: the background, the current problem, and our proposed solution. I’ll take around 20 minutes, and I’m happy to take questions at any time.” This helps your audience relax and focus.
Wow!—This is your hook. Something to capture their attention—a question, a striking image, a short story. The Who, What, Why, and How answer the logical questions in their heads. The Wow! is what engages them emotionally.
The five elements don’t have to be in this order—you can adjust depending on your audience. And here’s a fun challenge: read back through the beginning of this post and see if you can spot where I used each one. 😄
With a clear structure, you can reduce your nerves and start strong.
Put it into practice
So—next time you have a presentation coming up, whether it’s a big conference, client pitch, or team meeting update, give the Sasuga! Introduction Structure a go. Who, What, Why, How, Wow!
Start there. Because when you know exactly how you’re going to begin, you’re setting yourself up for more success and less stress.
A free resource to help you sound clear and confident
I also have a free resource with 12 essential phrases in English—and Japanese explanations—to help you sound clear and confident throughout your presentation, not just the introduction.
It’s called 12 Essential Phrases for Clear, Confident English Presentations—12 practical phrases covering everything from how to greet your audience to handling Q&A.
Ready to go deeper?
If this resonated and you’d like to explore presentation skills in more depth—covering everything from nerves and structure to body language, voice, slides, and Q&A—my self-study course Speak Like An Expert Online was designed exactly for that.
Find out more about the self-study course
And, for female managers and above, you can see—and feel—the difference in your leadership presence and communication skills in just one hour online in the small-group Sasuga! Women’s Presentation Workshop
Learn more about the next workshop
Don’t miss the next post
This is the second in a five-part series celebrating the 10th anniversary of my book 英語の仕事術 (Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu), published with Shogakukan, covering listening and questioning, online calls, meeting facilitation, and dealing with workplace conflict.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I get nervous before presentations?
Nerves before a presentation are completely normal and physiological. When you stand up in front of a group, your prehistoric brain perceives a social threat—will I be accepted?—and triggers the fight-or-flight response. Your heart pounds, you’re short of breath, your mind goes blank. Simply knowing this is normal can start to help you feel more at ease.
How can I stop my mind going blank during a presentation?
An effective way to prevent your mind from going blank is to have a reliable introduction structure, so you always know what comes next. Rehearsing enough that your content flows smoothly also helps.
What is the Sasuga! Introduction Structure?
The Sasuga! Introduction Structure is a five-part framework developed by Helen Iwata to help business professionals start any presentation with clarity and confidence. The five elements are: Who (introduce yourself), What (state your topic), Why (give the audience a reason to listen), How (outline your agenda, timing, and Q&A format), and Wow! (hook them emotionally). The elements can be used in any order depending on your audience.
How do I start a presentation in English confidently?
Start with a clear structure rather than reading from or memorizing a script. The Sasuga! Introduction Structure gives you five reliable elements to open every presentation. Pair this with a handful of go-to phrases—like “I’d like to cover three topics today” or “I’m happy to take questions at any time”—and you’ll feel significantly more in control from the very first word.
Is it normal to be nervous about presenting in English as a non-native speaker?
Absolutely. Even native English speakers get nervous about presentations. For non-native speakers, the pressure is often more intense because you’re managing language and nerves simultaneously. The good news is that structure and preparation reduce both. You don’t need perfect English—you need a clear message and a reliable way to start.
What’s the most common mistake Japanese presenters make in English presentations?
A common mistake is diving straight into details without engaging the audience and clarifying the big picture first. Global audiences need connection and context before content—they want to know why it matters to them and whether it’s worth listening to you. Without this, even excellent content can be difficult to follow.
This post is part two of a five-part series celebrating the 10th anniversary of the book 英語の仕事術 (Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu) by Helen Iwata.
Read more here: Part 1: Listening and Questioning