You have a presentation coming up. You’re uncertain whether to include an exercise, a piece of information, or a humorous anecdote because you don’t know if it will be well received. Do you include it, or not? How can you know?

When in doubt, ask! We often resist doing the easiest thing we could do to make that decision. Ask the participants, would this be helpful, appropriate, relevant. It seems so obvious, doesn’t it? And yet, we don’t. Why not?

Maybe the reason is as simple as thinking that’s not an option. Well, it is! For others, that’s not the case.

I’m sure you remember the saying, “There’s no such thing as a dumb question.” Do we really believe that? Who among us hasn’t thought, I should know the answer to this, or, if I ask, I’ll appear less than professional? Or maybe we took the risk and were ridiculed or shamed. Won’t do that again! 

It’s no surprise, then, that we don’t even consider asking. We fear losing power, which could look like influence, authority, connection, belonging, status, money, or any number of things. Our survival brain says, no way, you’re not doing that! 

What’s the solution to this conundrum? Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Before your presentation, seek input from people you respect and be open to adjusting your content depending on their responses. There’s more than one way to approach your topic. Be flexible. Speak the language of your audience.
  1. During your presentation, ask your participants if they’d like to try the exercise or hear your information. Give them the option. If several say yes, do it! Now you have the permission and power of the group.
  1. Be prepared to adjust in the moment. It’s okay if it doesn’t work out the way you’d hoped. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Just be ready to shift gears. Your audience will appreciate both your courage and your responsiveness! 

We’re always balancing what we want and need to share with what our audience wants and needs to hear. A certain amount of risk comes with the territory. So, when in doubt, ask. Make your choice. Then, own it. You have that power. Use it!