Why do smart people keep giving terrible presentations?
Enough. I am so over smart people giving sh!tty presentations. Talking heads, mainly. Those who think reading a densely packed script while we stare up your nostrils in a badly lit room will hold our attention and help us engage with your ideas. Its worse than underwhelming. Its frustrating. Its disappointing. And in the days of digital, its unprofessional and inexcusable. You are there because you are clever. We want to hear from you and about you. But goodness, you make it hard. Some things that come to mind:  Bring an energy that signals you want to be there. You have to lift your natural energy to compensate for the flattening effects of digital;  Dont read slabs of text. What works in written form doesnt work the same when spoken. Its like were listening to an essay;  You are competing with your audiences environment  that means you need to use visual cues to keep them interested in whats happening on screen. Why is this important to know?; and  Keep it simple. People tend only to remember the start, what surprises them most and how youve made them feel. Most of all, dont make the mistake of thinking a presentation is what you say. Its really not about the content youve sweated over to get ready for us. Its you. Its how you engage with us. Dont waste your talent and my time. You are better than that. This article was first published on LinkedIn.