Managing the tricky personalities when you present
What people fear most during a presentation isn’t forgetting their topic, it’s managing the unruly audience.
The smart alec up the back who hijacks your session. The clown that leads your audience into a giggling fit. The sniper who wants to shoot you down. We have all experienced them at some time. But you can prevent them from occurring.
Here are three common reasons people derail presentations — and what you can do about it.
1. Cognitive overload
Pitching your content at the right level is crucial. Too much jargon and your audience feels overwhelmed. Too simple, and they tune out, leaving space for the clowns to take centre stage.
The fix:
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Do your homework: ask a few people about their level of knowledge beforehand.
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When in doubt, cut the jargon.
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Use stories, metaphors, and analogies to make complex points stick.
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Watch body language for signs of confusion or boredom and adjust as you go.
2. Too much sitting
If your audience’s day-to-day doesn’t involve sitting for hours, don’t expect them to suddenly love it now. Energy dips fast, especially after lunch.
The fix:
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Get people on their feet.
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Involve them in demonstrations or role plays.
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Build in short activities where they practise the skill rather than just hear about it.
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Mix them up with interactive exercises (for example, moving to groups by sticker colour).
3. Lack of contribution
Adults bring experience — and Google — to every session. If they can’t connect what you’re saying to what they already know, frustration and disruption creep in.
The fix:
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Use small-group discussions (instead of the dreaded “Any questions?” to a silent room).
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Pose challenging, real-world problems to debate.
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Ask how they’d apply the concept at work.
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Encourage differing views: “Do you agree? Why or why not?”
Most disruptive behaviour isn’t about you; it’s about unmet needs in the room. Meet those needs with the right mix of clarity, energy, and participation, and you’ll keep the snipers, hijackers, and clowns firmly in their seats.
- The Rules of Attention - July 31, 2026
- Why Don’t They Trust Me? - July 9, 2026
- Data vs Stories - May 21, 2026
