The Secret Sauce to Presenting Better

By Patrina Pellett, PhD

 Visibility is the secret sauce to presenting better and most people are avoiding it. Here are 3 ways to see what you can’t unsee about your communication skills.

Tom Caravela didn’t always sound like a confident presenter. Back when he launched MSL Talk, listening to his own voice was tough. But what changed everything? Visibility.

On a recent episode of MSL Talk on How To Present Like an Expert, Tom shared how he improved as a presenter and it wasn’t pretty:

“I had a very difficult time listening to myself in those early years… I would critique myself and take notes on the number of filler words I used, what the words were. I would listen to the inflection in my voice. If you go back, you’ll hear a different person.”

Sound familiar? Most people hate listening to themselves. Watching yourself on video? Even worse. It’s cringey. It’s awkward. It’s a special kind of self-inflicted pain.

That’s the thing though. If you’re not willing to see what’s really happening when you present, you can’t improve. That self-awareness is the real secret to mastering MSL presentation skills and it’s what most professionals are missing.

Even when you do get through a playback, it’s hard to know what to take action on. Was it filler words? Pacing? Flat tone?

Sometimes the gap is obvious. Most of the time, it’s not. That’s why we built a better way to help MSLs see how to improve, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it.

Visibility Is the Secret Sauce to Presenting Better

We’ve reviewed hundreds of presentations through our Aspire MSL Program and corporate team trainings. And whether someone is a new MSL or a seasoned field leader, the pattern is the same:

• They’re not aware of how fast they’re talking
• They don’t hear their own filler words
• They don’t realize their tone is flat
• They don’t understand why they’re not landing their message

And that’s where things break down. You can’t improve what you can’t see. And most feedback in presentation training is vague at best.

The Problem with Traditional Feedback

“You’re doing great, just slow down a little.”
“Try to sound more confident next time.”

Sound familiar?

Most presentation coaching is vague, after-the-fact, or inconsistent. Watching peers present is awkward. Peer feedback is rarely useful. And even expert critiques are subjective and often too late. What MSLs need is real-time, objective, actionable insight. Even expert coaching can only go so far without real data. And that’s the gap we set out to solve.

Try This: Watch Yourself (Even If It Feels Awful)

If you want to start improving today, this is your first move:

1. Record yourself presenting: Just 2–3 minutes. A data slide. An intro. A summary.
2. Watch it back: All the way through. No skipping.
3. Ask yourself:
   
   - Did I rush or ramble?
   
   - Did I sound engaged or bored?
   
   - Would I listen to me?

You’ll notice where your energy drops. Where you ramble. When you say “um” for the sixth time.

If you’ve never done this, you’re not alone. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s the most powerful practice you’re probably not doing. But it’s also the fastest way to get better. You’ll get better in 10 minutes of this than in 10 rounds of vague feedback.

But There’s a Smarter Way

Watching yourself is valuable, but it’s still limited. You can’t catch everything. And most people stop before it gets useful.

That’s why we invested in a tool that doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t guess. Doesn’t sugarcoat.

When Sarah took an AI-based presentation course, she learned more in a few days than she had in years of formal training. That inspired us to build our own system, based on the 5 Ps of Powerful Delivery, and use it as the foundation of the Elite Presentation Lab.

Now, instead of guessing, MSLs get measurable, targeted feedback in minutes.

The Breakthrough: Metrics, Not Opinions

Now, instead of guessing, MSLs get measurable, targeted feedback in minutes.

You record yourself, and within seconds, the tool breaks down your vocal delivery across the 5 Ps:

• Pace
• Pitch
• Projection
• Pronunciation
• Pause

Here’s what the pacing actually looks like in action:

👉 Fun fact: Sarah and I are fast talkers. We knew that, but didn't know how bad it was or how we could improve without this data. This chart is not burned in my brain and I think about it everytime I present. 

Without this tool, there’s no way we could see this level of nuance let alone compare delivery styles across speakers. Even watching yourself on video wouldn’t show this.

Expert coaching can only go so far. Unless you’re recording every session and breaking it down scientifically, you’re mostly working off gut instinct.

What the Tool Does (That No Human Coach Can)

The AI doesn’t just tell you to “slow down.” It shows you how your pace changes slide by slide. Where you rush. Where you ramble. Where you lose your energy.

It flags the filler words you didn’t realize you were using 20+ times. It identifies weak language you fall back on without noticing. It tells you how your pitch is trending and whether you're holding attention or putting your audience to sleep.

This isn’t commentary. It’s actionable coaching. And that’s what actually drives improvement. This is feedback you can do something with. And that’s what creates real change.

This is the kind of feedback that rewires how you speak. Because it’s precise. And personal.

The Launch of the Elite Presentation Lab

After rolling the AI tool out to Medical Affairs teams, the feedback was clear:

• MSLs loved the data
• Leaders could see real progress
• Teams finally had a way to measure growth

So we created the Elite Presentation Lab, a 6-month program built for individual MSLs who want to level up.

It combines:

• Our proprietary AI tool
• Real-world presentation scenarios (like explaining safety data or setting boundaries with leadership)
• Monthly expert training sessions and community support

You don’t just practice. You improve with evidence.

Our first cohort begins July 15th and we have special founder's pricing through July 4th. Don't miss it!

Better Practice = Faster Progress

Here’s the best part: you don’t even have to rewatch yourself.

You can practice a real presentation in the AI tool, and get instant coaching on your own time. No awkward peer feedback. No guessing what to fix. Just clear guidance.

Whether you’re preparing for an interview, leading a virtual KOL meeting, or articulating value to your commercial counterparts, this gives you the edge.