Content doesn’t matter if your delivery is a mess.

Yes, the content of your presentation or speech is important.

Of course it is.

But never forget: Your delivery matters just as much.

And most people have never clocked this.

They spend hours, days, weeks even, crafting the perfect content.
Slide after slide of beautifully aligned bullets.
Every statistic fact-checked.
Every transition animated.

But then then they stand up and deliver it like a robot with its battery half-charged.

Monotone voice.
Zero eye contact.
Reading from notes.
Awkward pauses.

What a waste.

Always remember to strike a balance

An audience will judge you on your delivery as much as your content. In many cases, even more so.

You could have the most insightful, groundbreaking content in the world. But if your delivery is a mess, no one will care.

They’ll switch off.
Scroll their phones
Stare out the window and think about lunch.

It’s your delivery that makes your content land.
It’s what makes you memorable.
It builds your reputation.

Don’t get me wrong, you don’t need to be theatrical or try to be a stand-up comedian.

But you do need to:

1. Practise.
Not just once. Not in your head. Out loud. Standing up. Like it’s real.

2. Speak clearly.
Many people speed up or mumble when nervous. Enunciate.

3. Put some oomph into it.
If you don’t sound excited about what you’re saying, why should your audience be? Put some energy in it. Vary your tone. Show that you care.

4. Be relatable.
Talk to people, not at them. Use everyday language. Share stories. Drop the jargon. No one’s inspired by bullet point 4 of 11 on a slide titled ‘Strategic Context Overview.’

5. Be human.
Try to be real. If you mess up a word, carry on. If your voice shakes slightly, that’s fine. Authenticity beats polish every time.

6. Get feedback before you present.
Record yourself. Ask someone to watch a run-through. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But it’ll massively improve your delivery on the day.

To sum up

If you put tonnes of time and effort into your content, great

But don’t stop there.

Make sure you focus on the delivery.
Never rely on, ‘It’ll be alright on the night’ and wing it on the day.

Think of it this way. Even a so-so message can land if it’s delivered well.

But a brilliant message will fall flat if your delivery’s a mess.

The next time you're preparing a talk…

Don't just think: What am I saying?
Also think: How am I going to say it?

Because that is what your audience will actually remember.


Hate public speaking? Let’s fix that.
Start the journey to banish your fear of public speaking and presenting, improve your confidence, and boost your career prospects. Check out the online masterclass here at Better Public Speaking.