When you give a presentation, you have something valuable to share. But if your audience doesn’t feel connected to you, it doesn’t matter how brilliant your insights are—they won’t land. In fact, when connection is missing, you risk confusion, disinterest, and even damaging your credibility.
On the flip side, when you truly connect, you have everything to gain. Your message becomes more memorable, your influence strengthens, and you build trust and confidence with your audience.
So how do you create that connection? It comes down to three key principles:
- Know your audience
- Make it about them
- Be honest
1. Know Your Audience
Your connection starts long before you step on stage—it begins with understanding who will be in the room.
Sometimes, you’ll know your audience well: colleagues, peers, or industry experts. Other times, you may face a group of strangers. Either way, it’s your job to learn as much as you can about them and tailor your presentation accordingly.
Consider their experience, expectations, and preferences:
- Are they data-driven decision-makers who expect hard numbers?
- Do they prefer a conversational, story-driven style?
- Are they time-starved executives who need a concise, high-impact presentation?
If you have a mixed audience, identify the group you most want to reach and shape your talk with them in mind. When you try to speak to everyone, you often connect with no one.
Once you understand your audience, make it clear that you get them.
- Use language they relate to.
- Avoid industry jargon they won’t recognize.
- Reference relevant challenges or goals they care about.
When your audience feels seen and understood, they’ll be far more receptive to your message.
2. Make It About Them
As humans, we are wired for self-interest—it’s part of our survival instinct. A study by the National Academy of Sciences even found that people are more likely to remember information when it directly relates to them.
So, when you’re giving a presentation, resist the urge to make it about you. Instead, frame it around your audience’s experiences, challenges, and needs.
One easy way to check if you’re making it about them:
- Review your presentation for “I” and “we” statements.
- Replace them with “you” language to draw your audience in.
For example:
- Instead of saying, “I’m going to share how my company can help you,” say, “You’re probably tired of inefficient workflows slowing you down. Imagine cutting that time in half.”
- This subtle shift makes your message feel more relevant and personal.
As Maya Angelou famously said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” When you make your audience feel seen and valued, they’ll be far more likely to engage with—and remember—your presentation.
3. Be Honest
Authenticity is the foundation of trust. If your audience senses insincerity or evasion, you’ll lose them.
Honesty in a presentation doesn’t mean oversharing or being self-deprecating—it means being transparent, genuine, and relatable.
- Share real stories or experiences, even if they reveal vulnerability.
- If you don’t know the answer to a question, admit it. Audiences trust a genuine, “Let me find out and get back to you,” far more than a vague or inaccurate response.
- Be transparent about challenges or limitations—it makes your wins feel more credible.
Q&A sessions are a great opportunity to showcase honesty. If you face a tough question, respond with grace and transparency. The audience will appreciate your candor.
Connection Is the Key to Lasting Impact
Even the most polished presentation will fall flat if your audience doesn’t feel connected to you. On the other hand, even a simple message can have a powerful impact when it resonates on a human level.
So, before you fine-tune your slides or practice your delivery, ask yourself:
- Do I know my audience well enough?
- Am I making this presentation about them?
- Am I being honest, even when it feels vulnerable?
Prioritizing connection ensures your message doesn’t just land—it sticks. And when it sticks, it drives results. Need help with more insights on getting results? Reach out, we’d love to help!
