Why Presenting in Business Hasn’t Evolved — And Why That’s a Leadership Crisis

Everything in business has changed, except the way many people present.

Technology has advanced, markets have shifted, and leadership expectations have evolved, yet the culture of presenting in many organisations remains rooted in the past.

This raises a difficult but essential question:

Has your organisation kept pace with the times, or are you inadvertently adding to today’s leadership crisis?

Over the past two decades, almost every aspect of business has undergone a profound transformation. Marketing strategies have evolved, technology has advanced at an extraordinary speed, and leadership practices have shifted to meet new expectations. Yet despite all this progress, one area has remained curiously unchanged.

In many organisations, the way people present their ideas still resembles a bygone era. The same habits persist. The same templates dominate, and the same outdated expectations shape how information is shared. While the business world has moved forward, presentation culture in many workplaces has been left behind.

The Leadership Paradox

Every week, HR Business Partners from some of the world’s biggest brands call us in to help their people present more effectively. They tell us the same things: the thinking isn’t joined up, the message isn’t clear, and the presentations are boring.

When we observe these presenters in action, the feedback is often accurate, but then something fascinating happens.

We bring those same individuals into the training room, and everything changes.
With encouragement, guidance, and a safe space to experiment, they become imaginative, creative, engaging speakers. The potential was always there; it simply wasn’t being unlocked. Despite their enthusiasm, they share the same frustrations:

They tell us

Their leaders only want data and facts.
Corporate templates are rigid and uninspiring.
The culture makes it unsafe to say, “I don’t know.”
What leaders say they want and what they actually do are often worlds apart.

These aren’t isolated comments; we hear them every week, and they reveal a deeper truth:

Presenting in business today isn’t just a skills issue; it’s a leadership issue.

Leaders Want Change… But  Many Don’t Model It

Many leaders tell us they want more creativity, more engagement, more clarity, more storytelling, but that’s not how they present themselves.

They want their teams to “do as they say,” not “as they do.”

That creates uncertainty, frustration, and distrust; a culture where people play it safe instead of showing up fully.

You can’t send people on a presentation skills course expecting transformation if you continue presenting the same way you always have. Leadership is and always has been about leading by example.

If leaders want their people to present differently, they must create an environment where different is possible.

How Leaders Can Transform the Culture of Presenting

The first step is to remove the barriers that keep people stuck in outdated habits.

Rigid templates, for example, rarely serve the purpose leaders imagine. They restrict creativity, limit expression, and reduce presentations to branded wallpaper. Guidelines are helpful; constraints are not.

Leaders also need to make it safe for people to say, “I don’t know.”

In many organisations, admitting uncertainty is seen as a weakness. In reality, it’s a sign of honesty and maturity. When people feel they must know everything, they default to reading slides, hiding behind data, and avoiding real conversation. That’s another shift leaders must champion: moving from data dumps to meaningful dialogue.

Data is abundant

If all you want is numbers, ask for them in advance. Use presentation time to explore the story behind the numbers, the insight, the impact, the implications, and the way forward.

Leaders can also help their teams by being explicit about what keeps them engaged.
Most presenters are guessing. They don’t know whether you want detail or headlines, visuals or narrative, structure or spontaneity. A few minutes of clarity from a leader can save hours of unnecessary preparation and a great deal of anxiety.

Most importantly, leaders must allow people to be themselves.

Too many professionals believe they must be polished, slick, serious, and all-knowing. That pressure kills authenticity, creativity and connection.

Professional doesn’t mean robotic; it means being real, prepared, and present.

Leadership Drives Presentation Culture

Far too many leaders send their teams on a one-day presentation course, expecting everything to change. Training helps enormously, but it’s not enough.

Your people need your example, permission and leadership.

If you want your organisation to present differently, you must lead differently.

If you  or your team need help presenting in business:

– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.

– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.

– Get yourself some excellent presentation training

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