Best Ways to Give the Worst Presentation

AI is much more than just ChatGPT, the same way speaking is more impactful than just a few pics on social media with a few likes. If you are happy with little in life, this post is not for you; this is only for professionals who want to be unstoppable on their growth journey.

With over 22 years of global speaking experience ?? and collaborations with more than 150 companies from 30 countries ??, I've spoken across the globe and observed countless speakers and corporate presentations. When working with corporate clients or individuals, I emphasize that speaking is a skill that elevates all other skills ??, effectively conveys messages ??, and forges lasting connections ??.

A powerful presentation, grounded in strong speaking skills, delivers highest ROI

Companies invest significant funds ?? sponsoring events where leaders showcase products, services, or personal expertise. Yet, despite these opportunities, I see presentations daily that fall short. Speaking is a magic wand that can give you much more.

Reminder: If you're happy with just a few clicks and social media posts, this isn’t for you. But if you want to impact as a speaker, read on! ??

If your goal is to deliver a terrible presentation, here are foolproof techniques to miss the mark: Write in the comments which one annoys you the most.?

1. ?? Read from the Slides

• Write excessively on your slides, skip practice, and read directly from them. After all, why does the audience need you if they can just read the slides? ??♀?
• My observation is that senior leaders are often the least prepared, reading from slides they haven’t reviewed. They often look surprised by the content ??—perhaps someone else created it for them—and they end up talking mostly about themselves instead of focusing on what’s valuable to the audience.

Senior leaders are often the least prepared. As Mohammed Ali once said, "The more you sit during the practice, the less you bleed in the arena." There is no substitute for homework.

2. ?? Share Obvious Information

• Tell your audience what they already know or could easily Google ??. At an employee engagement event, I once heard a speaker say, “We must engage with employees—it’s beneficial.” Clearly, everyone knew that!
• Audiences attend events to hear new insights they can apply right away. Even if you're discussing familiar topics, give it a twist by showing why people know something but struggle to use it. Every topic has the potential to be engaging! ??

WIIFM- What's In It For Me

3. ?? Be Monotone and Serious

Skip humor, avoid engagement, and keep it one-way and flat. Many technical speakers fall into this trap. But any topic can be engaging if you bring energy and enjoyment to it ??. The more you enjoy the discussion, the more your audience will too!

Many speakers simply don’t enjoy their own content, and that lack of passion is clearly felt by their audience.

4. ?? Confuse Your Audience

• This one is a classic—and it might put your audience to sleep! ?? Many speakers try to cover too much, leaving the audience lost. After 20 or 30 minutes, people are still unsure about the main message and why it’s relevant.

Remember, if 100 people attend your 30-minute talk, that’s 50 hours of human time wasted if you didn’t prepare properly. Respect your audience's time! ?

5. ?? Lose Connection with Your Audience

• Even a well-prepared talk falls flat if it’s irrelevant. I remember a speaker addressing a labor camp about investments in mutual funds—in English!—to workers earning minimal wages ??.

Relevance is meaningless without resonance.

?? The Value of Speaking Skills

When you speak, you’re investing time—yours and your audience’s—plus the resources spent on event sponsorship ??. The return on investment (ROI) for ineffective presentations is, unfortunately, zero.

But a powerful presentation, grounded in strong speaking skills, delivers high ROI through:

• ?? New clients and leads
• ?? Quick decision-making
• ?? Enhanced branding
• ?? Valuable connections for future
• ?? Impactful content delivery

Speaking is an acquired skill that makes all other skills shine brighter ?. Speaking is a skill anyone can acquire, no matter their age. ?? When you're ready to elevate your personal brand and represent your company effectively, let’s work together to make your voice impactful!

Warm regards, Neetu Choudhary

[email protected]

?? Award-winning keynote speaker, internationally recognized corporate trainer, UAE's top professional development coach, author, idea presentation advisor, and business excellence expert.

You might also be interested in another insightful newsletter by Neetu Choudhary, which explores the different shades of life, society, and self through thought-provoking topics: Sunday Shades Newsletter ??