About 10 years ago, when I was first becoming a trainer, I attended a workshop delivered by a world-renowned presenter. This wasn’t your average presenter. Attending his workshop was considered an important part of my development, and I’d been told I’d learn a huge amount.
And I did. The content was excellent.
But the biggest lesson had nothing to do with the content.
Within about 20 minutes, I knew he didn’t want to be there. I could just feel it.
He was low on energy. He mentioned several times that he was at the end of a long Australia and New Zealand tour. His chat between activities felt forced. He seemed to be dragging himself around the room.
I remember thinking, “Wow. He must have delivered this workshop one too many times.”
The content was still good. But the experience wasn’t what I was expecting.
I attended a refresher workshop with the same trainer a couple of years ago. And what a different experience! He bounced around the room with genuine excitement, gratitude and joy. You could tell he was loving every minute of it. The content was largely the same, but the energy could not have been more different.
And it confirmed something I’ve believed ever since:
If you’re bored by your presentation, your audience can tell.
Now before you tell me your topic is boring, your audience doesn’t want to be there, or you’ve delivered the presentation 47 times already, I get it. Oh man, do I hear you. I’ve been there too.
But the trick is to have a wee word with yourself before you present, so you give off “I’m into this” vibes rather than “get me out of here” vibes. I do this by focusing on how I’m going to help the people I’m working with. That usually puts a spring in my step.
But maybe it’s different for you.
Maybe you’re introducing an exciting change in the business. Maybe you’re helping an organisation solve a problem. Or perhaps you’re showing the board where the real issue lies.
Whatever it is, it’s not about your slides, your confidence, or how much you wave your hands around.
It’s about your purpose.
Because when you’re genuinely invested in the outcome, your audience can feel it. And when you’re simply trying to get through the presentation, they can feel that too.
So next time you feel a yawn coming on before a presentation, reconnect with why you’re there. Because if you don’t want to be there, neither will your audience.
Stop presenting. Start talking.
Jane
