What Really Sticks? My Presentation Fails and How You Can Do Better

 

Let’s be honest giving a talk or presentation can be nerve-wracking. For ages, I believed that if I packed in loads of facts and spoke with enthusiasm, my listeners would remember everything. Fast forward a few years and, with a bit of bumped ego, I discovered the hard way: people forget most of what we say. Maybe you’ve felt the same sting—wondering afterwards, “Did anyone take anything away from that?” Well, let me share some stories (yes, the ones where I went wrong!), what I learnt, and how you can make your sessions stick in people’s minds.

 

Why Do Audiences Forget So Much?

 

Before we dive in, here’s a bit of science (but don’t worry, no jargon—lesson learnt, as you’ll see). A German psychologist, Hermann Ebbinghaus, discovered over a century ago that people forget almost “70% of new information within 24 hours”. That’s right: most of your precious presentation will just float away by tomorrow!

 

Why? Because our brains can only take in so much at once, and they love clear, simple messages, stories and things that connect emotionally or relate to what we already know. Knowing this, I wish I’d done things differently from the start.

 

My Catalogue of Classic Presentation Mistakes

 

Trying to Say “Everything”

I’ll never forget my first proper business presentation. I was determined to sound thorough, experienced—even a bit impressive. So, what did I do? I crammed every fact, theory and case study I could find into my slides. I convinced myself: “The more information, the better!”

On the day, I barrelled through 47 slides in just under an hour. You should’ve seen the faces in the crowd. Some looked lost; one person actually yawned (twice!). When I finished, there was polite applause, but during the tea break, I overheard someone whisper: 

“That was a lot…but what was his main point?”

 

It hit me like a brick—nobody could remember a thing I’d said, because I’d buried them in details.

 

 Death by Slides

Nerves always got the better of me—especially early on. I’d spend hours making my slides ‘perfect’, making sure every sentence I planned to say was right there on the screen. Then I’d proceed to literally “read” my slides to the audience. I remember one time, a friend came up to me afterwards and said, “You know, you could have just emailed us the slides—it would’ve saved us the effort of sitting here.”

Ouch, but fair point. If you just read your slides, people quickly stop listening. They think, “Why pay attention when everything I need is on the screen?”

 

Jargon Jungle

Once, I was asked to speak to a group of young graduates at a careers event. I thought, “I need to sound professional”—so I loaded my speech with every bit of industry jargon I could think of.

At the end, one of the attendees approached me and sheepishly admitted, “I didn’t really get most of it. Sorry, could you explain some of those words?” That was my lightbulb moment. If people can’t understand you, they won’t remember you.

 

The Speech That Wasn’t a Conversation

Another painful memory is from a community event. I delivered what I thought was a passionate, engaging talk, and didn’t stop to ask a single question or get anyone involved. Thirty minutes of non-stop me, me, me. By minute fifteen, I could see people looking at their watches, fidgeting and even quietly chatting to each other. 

Someone was brave enough to say, “It would’ve been great if you’d asked what we thought, or if we could share our own experiences.” That really stuck with me: ‘presenting’ is not just about what comes out of your mouth—it’s also about creating a connection.

 

The Mistake of Never Repeating Myself

I used to believe “saying it once is enough.” So, I’d mention my main point, move straight into the details, and then finish. Later, I’d receive feedback like, “I liked the talk, but what was your overall message again?”  

It became clear—what felt repetitive to me was necessary for everyone else.

 

Lessons I Wish I’d Learnt Sooner

 

After tripping up over and over, here’s what I now know works:

 

Stick to One Main Idea

Ask yourself, “If my listeners only remember ONE thing, what should it be?” Now, use that as your anchor. Everything else should link back to this. These days, I’ll often literally state my main message at the very start—then refer to it at least twice more during the talk.

 

Use Stories—Even the Embarrassing Ones!

I used to bury audiences in data, but the few times I threw in a story from my life—like the one about the disastrous first presentation—people came up to me much later and recounted the story, sometimes word-for-word! Humans remember stories far better than statistics. 

Now, I always try to think, “Is there a story—maybe even an embarrassing one—that could bring my point to life?”

 

Keep it Simple and Clear

If a ten-year-old couldn’t follow what I’m saying, I rewrite it. Industry terms are tempting, but the simpler I make my language, the more people thank me afterwards for “making it understandable”.

 

Make it Visual, Not Just Textual

One friend told me, “Your slides are a wall of words.” That stung, but was true. Now, I use more images, diagrams and even props. At a recent talk, I held up a simple object relevant to my subject, and people still bring it up weeks later.

 

Engage the Audience

I’ve learnt that the moment I ask a question, request a show of hands, or even get people to turn to their neighbour and discuss something, the energy in the room shifts. People become active participants instead of passive sponges. 

Last year, a participant told me, “I remembered your session because you got us all involved—I had to think, not just listen!”

 

Repeat (Without Apology)

Now, I proudly repeat my key messages, sometimes to the point where it feels a bit silly. Surprisingly, people appreciate it. After a recent workshop, one attendee said, “You mentioned your main tip three times, and it stuck with me. That never happens!” Repetition isn’t a sign you don’t trust your audience—it’s an act of kindness.

 

Use Pauses for Effect

Earlier, I spoke as quickly as I could—maybe to hide my nerves. These days, I try to slow down and use pauses. Not only do I sound more confident, but the audience has space to let things sink in. The quiet “thinking moments” help people remember far more.

 

End with a Clear Summary

I always finish by reminding everyone, in simple terms, what the main points were and what I hope they'll remember. People like to be told, directly, what matters most.

 

What You Can Take Away

 

If you’ve made these mistakes, trust me—you aren’t alone. Most of us start out making talks far too complex, too rushed and too full of everything we know. Don’t worry. The best speakers are the ones who learn from their mistakes and keep things simple, clear and human.

 

So, next time you present, take it from someone who’s been there:

Focus on one message

Use real, simple stories and language

Make it interactive

Visualise your points

Pause, repeat, and sum everything up

 

If you do, you’ll find your audience remembers not just what you said, but how you made them feel—and even some of those all-important details.

 

Remember: I learnt this from plenty of cringe-worthy mistakes. You can get there faster by skipping the awkward bits! Good luck—you’ve got this.