RUN or RUIN: The Acronyms for a Great Presentation

The difference between a good presentation and a painful one usually starts before you open your mouth.

Let’s be honest…

We’ve all sat through a presentation that made time stand still. Too many slides. Too little focus. A speaker reading word-for-word while you quietly wonder if pretending to cough could get you excused early.

But if we’re being really honest, we’ve probably also given that presentation once or twice.

Public speaking isn’t just about confidence; it’s about intentional

preparation. Whether you’re leading a training, hosting a team meeting, or presenting to clients, the truth is simple: A presentation that isn’t ready to RUN is bound to RUIN itself.

R.U.N.: Is Your Presentation Ready to Run?

R = Relevant Ask yourself: “Does this matter to my audience right now?”

Relevance is everything. If your material doesn’t connect to your listeners’ current challenges, they’ll tune out, even if your design is gorgeous. ✅ Tailor examples to your audience’s role or region. ✅ Use current data and real scenarios. ✅ Skip the “general knowledge” slides, focus on applicable insight.

U = Understandable If people can’t follow you, they can’t retain you.

Break your message into simple, logical chunks. Avoid jargon. Define terms even if you think they’re basic, that’s inclusion, not condescension.

🧩 Quick Check: After finishing your draft, hand it to someone outside your department. If they can explain your main idea in one sentence, you’re good. If not, simplify.

N = Necessary Every slide, every point, every minute should earn its place.

You’re not there to prove how much you know; you’re there to help people grow. ✅ Cut anything that doesn’t directly serve the goal. ✅ Trim filler phrases like “As you can see…” or “Going back to the earlier slide…” ✅ End early instead of dragging late. No one ever complained about a concise presentation.

💡 Value Add(y) Tip: Add one reflective question at the end instead of a recap slide, it invites conversation instead of glazing eyes.

💥 R.U.I.N.: The Presenter’s Self-Check

Even the best deck can fall apart if the presenter isn’t grounded. That’s where R.U.I.N. comes in, a pre-presentation gut check designed to help you show up intentionally.

R = Ready Are you actually prepared, or just familiar with your material?

• Review your notes out loud, not in your head.

• Test your tech, your transitions, and your timing.

• Visualize your opening, first impressions set tone and confidence.
  

U = Unpack Your Bias Every presenter has one: maybe you assume your audience “should already know this,” or you expect disengagement before you start.

Bias shapes tone. And tone shapes engagement.

Take two minutes to write down your assumptions before you present. Then ask: “Are these true, or are they just stories I’m telling myself?”

The best facilitators show up curious, not corrective.

I = Interest What’s your connection to the topic? Why should anyone care if even you don’t sound excited?

Find your authentic interest, even if it’s small. Maybe it’s the story behind the project, the problem you solved, or the impact it made on someone.

When your enthusiasm feels real, your credibility skyrockets. Studies show that speaker enthusiasm increases audience retention by up to 30%. (forbes.com)

N = Neutralize Negativity This one’s huge. You can ruin a presentation in seconds by projecting frustration, sarcasm, or impatience.

Saying things like:

“You all should know this already.”“Wow, quiet group today.”“No one? Really?”

…instantly shuts people down.

Instead, neutralize your negativity before it surfaces.

• Take three deep breaths before starting.

• Reframe silence as thinking time.

• If engagement dips, ask a new question, don’t scold the room.

Positive energy doesn’t mean fake pep; it means controlled presence.

🧠 Putting RUN + RUIN Together

Before you present, ask two questions:

1. Is my presentation ready to RUN?→ Relevant, Understandable, Necessary.

2. Am I ready not to RUIN it?→ Ready, Unpack, Interest, Neutralize.

That combination turns “death by PowerPoint” into clarity with purpose.

⚙️ A Quick Pre-Presentation Checklist

Step	Question	Why It Matters
Relevant	Does this tie to real goals or pain points?	Keeps audience engaged.
Understandable	Would a stranger get it?	Simplifies your message.
Necessary	Does this slide earn its time?	Eliminates fluff.
Ready	Have I practiced transitions and tech?	Prevents panic moments.
Unpack	Did I check my tone and assumptions?	Builds psychological safety.
Interest	Do I care about this topic today?	Fuels authentic energy.
Neutralize	Have I let go of stress or frustration?	Keeps connection alive.

Print it. Tape it behind your laptop. Check it before every meeting, workshop, or client pitch.

A good presentation teaches something new. A great presentation makes people feel something new.

If you want your message to stick, make sure your materials are ready to RUN and your mindset won’t RUIN it.

Because in training, leadership, and public speaking, success isn’t about having the perfect slides, it’s about showing up with clarity, humility, and intention.

When you do that, people don’t just listen, they learn.