We’ve all heard speakers, even professional speakers, who make excuses. Everything from my flight was delayed to I didn’t sleep well last night. My first thought when I hear this is, ‘You know your presentation sucks and you’re giving me an excuse in advance so I’ll go easy on you.’

Now that might not be why you give an excuse. Maybe you think it’s endearing to share with the audience your recent travails. But in my opinion it’s the equivalent of the sixth grader telling the teacher, ‘The dog ate my homework.’ The teacher knows it’s just a lame excuse for not doing your assignment. When you’re asked to speak make sure you prepare yourself and don’t make lame excuses for not doing the assignment.

I’m not saying there haven’t been times when my plane has been late or I was sick or the presenter before me ran long and my time was cut by a third. What I am saying is I don’t tell the audience that. Mostly because they don’t care. Your audience came to hear your presentation. If you’re not going to keep that commitment they really don’t much care why. When you step in front of an audience you have a job to do. Prepare to do that job. Have a contingency plan in case something comes up last minute. Prepare your presentation well in advance so you’re not scrambling at the end and susceptible to unexpected events ruining your ability to do your job. And even when your best laid plans get derailed the audience still expects you to come through. Don’t disappoint them from the start by making excuses.

If you’re striving to be a better presenter never violate this simple principle. No excuses! You’re a professional. Don’t tell the audience the dog ate your homework!