When was the last time someone came up to you after a presentation and exclaimed, "wow, that was mediocre?"

Never.

Why? Because no one is ever going to tell you that your slides were unreadable, busy or complicated, and that you were boring and put half of the audience to sleep.

No one is going to tell you the truth. No one is going to tell you that your presentation stunk.

Only a microscopic percentage of presenters are really good with an audience or even supporting visuals, and even they could probably use some polishing somewhere along the line. It's a skillset that we aren't really taught. We just do it—and most people don't do it very well.

But they think they do.

Do you believe that something important that warrants you to assemble a plan, put together your ideas and express them in front of a group of other people deserves your full attention?

Do you want the truth?

Your audience deserves your best, and so do you. Don't be the first speaker to have someone tell you that you were actually mediocre.