So you’re about to make a presentation? Or about to do a teleclass. And you’re not feeling up to the mark. Last night the neighbour’s dog barked all night and now you’re feeling like it would be nice to snuggle back into bed.
But no. You’ve got a presentation to make. And you’re conscious that you’re not quite feeling 100%.
Which is just the point you make your first mistake…
You apologize to the audience
You apologise to the audience in advance. You tell them you had a rough night. And in one second, you’ve destroyed the perception of the audience.
You see, you may feel like hell, but the audience doesn’t know that you’ve come straight from Devil’s dome. They look at you, or hear your voice, and they don’t know any different. If you’re making a live presentation, they see someone who’s freshly showered, neat and ready to make a great presentation.
If you’re on the phone, they can see even less 
and they are looking for the upbeat energy in your voice. That’s all.
So don’t ever tell your audience how you feel.
Not before.
Not at the end of your presentation.
Your job is to make the presentation with as much gusto and energy as possible.
And then get the audience to the next step–whatever that next step may be. (e.g. to buy a product/service)
Keep your sob story for the cafe
Yes the barking dog was a pain.
Yes you didn’t sleep well.
Yes you were presenting at 50% of your ability.
That sob story can be told to friends/spouses at the cafe later.
Don’t make the mistake of ever telling an audience, because as you tell them you’re working at 50%, they’ll automatically believe they got less value. You tell them about the dog barking–again, they’ll believe you’re half asleep. The more you apologise, the more your audience is going to magnify that apology into a factor of less value.
Tell your audience what they need to hear.
And then take your applause.
Personal Experience:
I was due to speak on a cruise liner going in from New Zealand to Australia. It was winter, and we ran into rough waters on the Tasman Sea. And I was due to speak to a franchise group at 10am. There was just one problem. I was throwing up my breakfast for one solid hour before I was due to speak. I’d eaten a plateful of oily stuff (bacon, sausages, eggs) and was sick and throwing up till 9:15am.
But when I was done, I dressed and went down to speak. And spoke for a good hour. With not a word about my state. I got the applause (and a great testimonial from the CEo). My sob story was told over the bar later that night. 
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Another great way to start a presentation: “Testing, one two three, can you hear me?”
By the way, isn’t it a cultural thing? I saw very different presentation methods internationally, e.g:
US:
- start with your own story, preferably including personal tragedy and / or your pets
- promise huge benefits
- always include “if I can do it, you can do it too”
- sell like crazy from the podium
Europe:
- start with a brief joke or remark,
- hide behind a stand, read your presentation,
- sometimes lift your glasses and glance at the audience to make a point
- do not sell from the podium – sell ONLY afterwards, in the break
etc – what do you think?
Bang on Sean! Many years ago I had to take 3 construction executives on a 2 hours drive to my company HQ and make a presentation to them with my CEO, but I caught a cold, and the day before the meeting my voice went – completely! No problem. “How are you Phil?” “Great!” and then in the car a hundred jokes about how the presentation would be better if they couldn’t hear me, etc etc.
Same deal with my CEO. “Can you give the presentation like this?” “Sure!” I whispered. I did the presentation to a perfectly attentive audience. My CEO stepped in to answer nearly every question. In the end, they were all sensitive to my body language (frantic waving) when I wanted to speak and I participated no less than normal. I gained credibility with my customer for going the extra mile, and BIG brownie points from my CEO.
Moral of the story: People generally know that you’re not feeling good, you don’t need to tell them. If you then make light of it and STILL do a good job, they’ll admire you as a person as well as a dependable pro and will be even more prepared to do business with you.
That sure is a good story, Phil
OTOH, I once did tell the audience right off the bat just how disgruntled I was and about the bad things that happened to me, right from the start – and it totally got the audience hooked. Granted, this was a specific situation.
I use a wheelchair. I could not find accesible parking because the three mobility parking spaces at the venues were used by people that didn’t have a disability parking permit. Which meant I had to park across the street, and make my way in the pouring rain. I got in the venue soaked. Only to realise that the only way to the stage was through the back of the building, which had steps, which also involved getting back in the rain, or making my way through the audience and being lifted on stage.
The talk was about “disability awareness” and “accessibility”…
So I used the events to my advantage to tell a story, to hook them in. Not a pity party, not a pointless grumble. But taking all the reasons why I was justifiably unhappy and building them into my presentation.
Oh I would have done the same. No point in walking in soaked, if you can’t tell a good story.
Man,
Your stuff is always so brilliant when I glance your way. Always. How do you do it?
Thanks for the lesson… and the story.
You’re welcome
Great points Sean. The audience doesn’t know what they don’t know. If you are prepared for the event, you can give a good presentation. One time I had a two day presentation and was allergic to something in the hotel. My eyes stung and my head was blocked. I always travel with an allergy/sinus emergency kit. After taking some medicine, I was fine. Another thing I’ll do if I’m not feeling well is make sure there is something warm to drink during the presentation, preferably tea. Between segments or during comments from the room, I can sip something to sooth my aches with no one being the wiser.
That’s a great tip, Jen. Two days is a long time to hold out. You did well.