Knowing what to do is one thing, and knowing how to do it can be quite another; and few things reveal the difference and distance between the two than giving a presentation. Well intentioned advice such as “You need to have good body language, speak in a measured tone and confidently hold the space” may be true, but what actually is good body language and who determines that? Is there a size, shape and look that should be conformed to? What is a measured tone? Is it a particular speed; not too fast and not too slow? How on earth do you confidently hold a space? Assuming you did know and could implement such advice, it’s a formula and if followed, would—and does—produce a standardised result.

Dancing in the Line of Fire proposes that each presenter has a unique style that can be developed, enhanced, and refined not through following a predetermined formula, but by carefully exploring an algorithm that draws on individuality, personality, background, experiences, and so many other variables.

A freelance transferable skills trainer and facilitator specialising in presenting and aspects of communication, Piero Vitelli trained first in technical theatre and stage management before attending drama school, and has combined both these disciplines in his work since 1995.

Drawn from the workshops that he has created over the years and continues to deliver, Dancing in the Line of Fire is a collection of thoughts, ideas, stories, models, hypotheses and exercises that collectively form nothing more than his opinion. This book invites you to consider yourself as a presenter, to imagine yourself in the situations he describes and ask yourself what you do and what you might like to do differently. Think about the ideas he shares and determine which ones sound useful and which don’t. Open yourself to the possibility that doing what you’ve always done might just continue to get you what you’ve always got - and doing something else, something different, something new might create a better result.

Creating, developing and refining a personal presenting style is, in many ways, a Sisyphean task that no one should feel compelled to continue or condemned for stopping. But for some people there can be enjoyment, reward and a sense of achievement in the adjustments and refinements that are to be found on such a never-ending journey, and this book is written for them.