Every presentation is an act of influence. Your audience is subconsciously being influenced by you (or not!) as you present your ideas and updates. Part of the reason we get anxious about presenting is because we’re never really sure which words are going to come out of our mouth and we SO want those words to be convincing.
But we also need to be careful about what NOT to say – those words or phrases that can harm our influence and credibility.
Here are three phrases I sometimes hear that harm the presenter’s power to influence.
1) “I’ll try to explain…”
I hear this A LOT. Avoid it. It makes you sound unsure of your topic or your preparation. You are there to explain, you are the expert, and you CAN explain. So simply do it, don’t ‘try’. Your audience will trust you far more if you sound confident from the start.
2) “I know this is a lot of information.”
If you know it is a lot, why are you giving it in that way? When you say “This slide is dense” or “I know it’s a lot”, what the audience hears is “I didn’t take the time to make this easy for you”. And once they sense you do not have them in mind, your influence takes a hit.
A better approach is simple. If it is a slide problem, split the content across several slides. Slides are free! If it is a speaking issue, use clear signposting to guide people through your points. For example, “Now let’s look at the second point.” And if you introduce information gradually with builds, that’s even better.
3) “Does that make sense?”
People usually say this when they’re unsure how a point has landed. The intention is good but the effect can be the opposite. It signals uncertainty and puts the responsibility on the audience to reassure you.
A stronger alternative is: “I’m going to pause here in case anything needs clarifying.” You still invite questions for clarification, but you do it from a position of control and confidence.
Presenting is never about perfection, it is about being clear, credible and human. If you cut out these little credibility killers and replace them with stronger alternatives, your audience will feel more guided and more willing to follow you.
Small shifts in language can completely change how people perceive you, and these three are an easy place to start.
