What should you do when senior leaders steer your presentation somewhere else?
Follow them. When a senior audience wants to explore a risk or a cost, go there. You're there to share your insight and have a conversation.
What I say in the video
When you're presenting to senior audiences, the conversation may change direction. If the audience wants to explore a risk, a cost, or a different scenario, follow that discussion. You're not there to deliver a deck. You're there to share your insight and have a conversation.
Sometimes that means skipping slides. Sometimes it means answering questions earlier than planned. When you can stay clear and roll with the conversation, people trust you more.
What I didn’t say in the video
What keeps people glued to their slides is usually fear of losing the thread. If I leave the order, how do I get back?
You get back by knowing your three or four main points cold. Then wherever the conversation goes, you have somewhere to return to. "Coming back to the main recommendation" is all the bridge you need.
You can also make room for this from the start. Once you've given your bottom line, offer the floor: "If anyone has something top of mind they want to discuss first, I'm happy to open it up." You still own the structure. They just get a say in where it goes.
Try it today
Look at your next deck and circle the one slide where someone would most likely jump in. Know where to go from there.
Bill Smartt is a New York executive presence and public speaking coach and the founder of Smartt Talk. He works with leaders in financial services, tech, advertising and startups.
