By Catherine Sandland
I sit through a lot of presentations. Honestly, too many. And if I’m being direct with you, most of them sound remarkably similar. It’s not that the speakers aren’t capable or that the content lacks value. It’s just that somewhere along the way, presentations have become homogenised. Whether you’re in a boardroom listening to quarterly updates or at a networking event hearing pitch after pitch, there’s a sameness that’s hard to shake.
And here’s the thing: when everything sounds the same, we stop truly listening. Our brains are wired to notice difference, to pay attention to what stands out. When it all blends together, we drift. We nod politely. We might even take notes. But are we really engaged? Are we challenged? Are we curious?
Not often enough.
THE CORPORATE CONFORMITY
In the corporate world, there are good reasons why presentations sound the same. Corporate branding dictates that all slides follow the same template, so visually, everything looks identical. Death by PowerPoint is real. There’s also an accepted way of speaking in corporate environments, a particular tone and structure that’s deemed professional. To deviate from that pattern? Well, that might be seen as off-brand. Unprofessional, even.
So people follow the formula. They deliver information in expected ways, using expected language, with expected slides. The problem is that when your brain encounters the same pattern repeatedly, it stops seeing it as important. The information might be crucial, might be exactly what people need to hear, but if it sounds like the last update, the last board meeting, the last staff presentation, then people only half listen.
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECHO CHAMBER
It’s not just corporates, though. In the small business and networking world, I’m noticing the same thing. Don’t get me wrong, there are brilliant speakers out there doing wonderful work. But many are saying the same things. Whatever the latest trend is, whatever the foundational principles are, people are repeating them. They might say them slightly differently. They might even say them better than the next person. But ultimately, the core messages blur together.
This is a wasted opportunity, isn’t it? These are people aiming to stand out, to make their mark, to create connections and start conversations. In the entrepreneurial world especially, being curious and building genuine connections is absolutely critical to business success. Yet when presentations sound predictable, when they don’t challenge or provoke thought, people’s eyes glaze over. They nod because they get it. They’ve heard it before. But there’s no spark. No curiosity. No conversation that lingers after the event.
WHY ARE YOU ASKED TO SPEAK?
Let’s step back and consider why people get asked to speak in the first place. Usually, it’s for one of three reasons.
Position
Sometimes you’re asked to speak simply because of the role you hold. You’re the CEO. You’re the Finance Director. You’re the Managing Director of a large international company. I’m working with one right now, actually. She’s asked to speak because of her position, regardless of whether she’s a natural presenter. She is brilliant, as it happens, but the point is that the invitation came because of the title, not necessarily the speaking ability.
Knowledge
Other times, you’re the expert. You work in technology, innovation, legal, HR. You know things that others don’t. Perhaps you specialise in a particular field or you’ve got the expertise to deliver what I’d call a ‘how-to’ talk. You’re invited to share that knowledge.
Entertainment or Engagement
And then there are speakers who are invited primarily because of how they make people feel. Motivational speakers, for instance. People with inspirational stories or the ability to move an audience emotionally. The content matters, but what really matters is the energy they bring, the way they engage.
SO WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
If you’re asked to speak for any of these reasons, position, knowledge, or engagement, then there’s one non-negotiable: be good at it. Be clear. Be concise. Be compelling. Make sure that what you say actually makes your audience feel something. Aim for genuine impact and influence, not just information delivery.
But I think there’s something deeper here. Now more than ever, it’s really important that we differentiate ourselves. We need to make sure we don’t sound like everyone else, either in delivery or in content. We need to be thoughtful and intentional about what we share. We need to gear our presentations not just towards engaging our audiences, but towards challenging them. Towards making them curious.
Because when we do that, something shifts. Your impact and influence increase almost certainly. Your opportunities to share grow. And, perhaps most importantly, you save audiences from having to sit through the same messages over and over again.
We aren’t just delivering information at that point. We’re delivering inspiration. We’re not just downloading what we know; we’re shaping and crafting it in a way that genuinely makes a difference for the people listening. Whether that’s in a corporate organisation or at an entrepreneurial networking event.
THE COST OF SAMENESS
The cost of sameness is higher than we might think. In corporate settings, critical information gets missed because it sounds like every other update. In entrepreneurial circles, genuine connections don’t get made because conversations never truly start. People walk away unchanged, unchallenged, uninspired.
Your brain is designed to notice difference. To remember what stands out. To engage with what feels fresh or challenging or thought-provoking. When presentations sound the same, when they follow the same patterns and deliver the same messages in the same ways, our brains tune out. We’re present, but we’re not really there.
So if you’re asked to speak, whether it’s because of your position, your knowledge, or your ability to engage, make it count. Be intentional. Be different. Be the speaker who makes people lean forward, not the one who confirms what they already know.
Make them curious. Start conversations that ripple outward. Create moments that people actually remember.
Because that’s what great speaking is really about, isn’t it? Not just being heard, but being remembered. Not just informing but transforming.
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Want to ensure your presentations stand out and create genuine impact?
Visit www.catherinesandland.com to learn more.