Godin Presents Presenting!

Don’t ever make a speech you have to apologize for

I read through several blogs and web sites every day, one I particularly enjoy is Seth Godin’s Blog.

In a recent entry, Seth writes that the speakers at the event were starting off with “I know you’re hungry, but…” After reading it, I thought to myself “Hey, I’ve written something like that too!” I re-read his article, chuckled to myself, and reviewed my article from 2006 – “How Not to Present” – and chuckled some more.

I love it when a good idea comes around again;-)

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Why oh why do you feel the need to apologize?

When starting your presentation with an apology, the implication is that you know your speech A) isn’t really that good, B) doesn’t help the audience, or C) merely takes up time at an otherwise droll event…

But there is another possibility. You do this so rarely that while you think it’s going to go all right, you’re not sure. And by apologizing before you start, you feel better because you’ve warned them.

Well don’t!

Seth’s punch line differs from mine, but we’re on the same track – don’t give bad presentations and speeches: get help (me) and keep it short (Seth), and whatever you do, don’t waste more time with an apology;-)

It’s still a good idea, no matter how you approach it.