Don’t Lose the Room: How Credibility Can Make or Break Your Message

I’ll admit it—I’m detail-oriented and place a high value on accuracy. And chances are, there’s at least one person like me in every audience. If you, as a speaker or executive, say something that sounds factually incorrect or misquote a source, you lose credibility instantly. When that happens, the connection between you and the audience is broken.

Let me give you an example. I travel a lot and listen to audiobooks—both fiction and non-fiction. When a narrator mispronounces a key word or delivers something that seems wrong, it pulls me out of the experience. Suddenly, I’m wondering whether the author didn’t do enough research or if the narrator simply misunderstood. Either way, the moment is ruined.

The same thing happens during presentations. I’ve seen speakers fail to attribute quotes or, worse, claim someone else’s words as their own. That’s an instant credibility killer. Have you ever experienced something like that?

I’m not alone in feeling this way. I once gave a presentation to a group of grocery executives and mentioned that salsa has outsold ketchup in the U.S. since 1992. One of the executives, clearly skeptical, pulled out their phone to fact-check me. I paused and asked what they found. When Google confirmed my statement, the room trusted me for the rest of the session. But if I’d been wrong, or if the search had shown something different, my presentation might have ended right there—regardless of how much time I had left.

Credibility is the foundation of any successful presentation. Without it, your audience has no reason to trust your message, no matter how polished your delivery is. As a presenter, credibility isn’t just about knowing your content—it’s about showing authority, honesty, and reliability from start to finish. This is also the essence of executive presence.

Credibility serves three critical roles.

First, it builds trust. When your audience shows up, they expect you to be an expert or at least well-informed on your topic. If you fumble facts, misquote someone, or dodge questions, you break that trust. Once people sense that you’re unreliable, they check out, and getting them to re-engage becomes a serious challenge.

Second, credibility amplifies your influence. A credible speaker isn’t persuasive because of volume or charisma, but because they come across as competent. Your audience is far more likely to follow your recommendations or act on your advice when they see you as informed and trustworthy.

Third, credibility strengthens your connection with the audience. People are drawn to speakers who are authentic and transparent. If you make a mistake, admitting it can actually boost your credibility. It shows humility and a commitment to the truth. But when you ignore or gloss over errors, that connection weakens, and your audience starts to question everything you say.

In the end, for both speakers and executives, credibility is the key. Without it, even the most engaging presentation or compelling message will fall flat. The content, the delivery, and the confidence all depend on whether your audience believes in you as a reliable source. And once that trust is lost, regaining it is incredibly difficult, if not impossible.

Interested in learning more? Let’s do an Executive Presence keynote or workshop with your team!

--

Envision the most compelling and transformative leaders, speakers, and executives you've admired. Now picture yourself embodying that same influence and impact. By adopting these proven techniques, you will elevate your executive presence and amplify your influence.

Subscribe to our newsletter on LinkedIn for more exclusive insights, advice, and practical tips to revolutionize your executive presence. Let's embark on this journey of transformation together. https://www.dhirubhai.net/newsletters/7124178677793247232

We delve much deeper on this subject in my forthcoming book, “Influence Amplified: Executive Presence & Strategic Storytelling.” You are welcome and encouraged to comment on LinkedIn or reply to this email.

As a Transformation Navigator, Bob Roitblat specializes in illuminating the path to innovative thinking, a future-proof mindset, and the leadership prowess needed to overcome today's challenges and grasp tomorrow's possibilities. He is a renowned keynote speaker, delivering powerful presentations and interactive workshops at numerous events across the globe. Follow Bob on LinkedIn: www.dhirubhai.net/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=bobroitblat

Permission to reprint this article is hereby granted to all print, broadcast, and electronic media, provided that the contact information at the end of the article is included in your publication. For organizations publishing articles electronically, a live, clickable link to https://www.roitblat.com must also be included and be visible.

Permission is also granted for reasonable editing of content, including the exchange of industry-specific examples, adjustments to length, and modifications to the article title.