What do you think is really going on in the minds of those listening to your presentation? Do they really want to change their lives for the better? Or are they just thinking about going for a coffee afterwards or where to bring their kids on the weekend?

In Web3 presentations, many miss a vital mark:

What you actually do by talking about your product is fighting the mental diarrhea of every single person in the room. And to bring these people out into the present, you have to show them a movie much more interesting than their own. But instead, you dive into how the project itself works. And this type of focus is not only dull but also fails to make the problem relevant.

For example, when you say things like, “We think it’s going to be…” — 100% you gonna lose people’s attention. Because the reality is, no one actually cares about what you think; we care about how your project impacts our personal world. Or phrases like, “that’s a good question.” By buying yourself some time, people subconsciously pick up on it as a hesitation tactic, and it kills trust.

In general, most common mistakes that undermine presentations include a lack of problem focus, an inability to spark new neural connections, and, many times, a presenter’s own insecurity that manifests in their tone — a flat, monotonous delivery, where every sentence sounds the same.

The most crucial mistake when presenting is not to think of it as teaching. Yes, you literally have to teach people like they are 5 years old kids about the value of your project. Especially if you are talking to investors, or present yourself to an important person like CEO. And the true professionalism of a presenter is that no one actually understands that you talk to them like they are kids.

Teaching requires a different approach to how information is absorbed by our brain. For example, Instead of simply reading from slides, we have to use people’s imagination as illustrations that enhance their understanding of what you are talking about.

A good teacher uses stories, comparisons, and interactive examples to make sure students don’t just listen passively but actively engage with the lesson.

And of course, in order to fight someone’s mental flow, you first have to understand how works your own.

Then in your presentation it’s not gonna be difficult for you to switch and make it taught rather than told. Because the main goal is not just to inform people, but to leave them with a new vision and a curiosity to learn more.

Kate Kornish