How many presentations have you received in your life? How many do you actually remember?
Something happened to me more than fifteen years ago. And I still remember every single detail.
I’m on my way home from work, stepping out of the station, lost in thought. Just another ordinary day. As I turn onto the quiet street where I live, I notice flashing blue lights. Police cars. Lots of them. Right in front of my house.
An officer stops me at a distance. It looks like a crime scene. But on this street? I scan for clues. There’s a library nearby — has someone stolen a book? Surely not enough to warrant a full police blockade.
Then I spot an overturned car.
Blood on the pavement.
Bodies.
This is bigger than I thought.
And then… zombies.
A swarm of them stumbling across the road, groaning like they do. Police trying to contain them. Shots are fired. Screams. I stand frozen, watching in horror as a zombie apocalypse unfolds right outside my house.
And then I hear it:
“Cut!”
In an instant, the undead snap out of character. Nobody is dying. Nobody is dead. And thankfully, nobody has risen from the dead.
I ask what film it is. Cockneys vs Zombies, they tell me, before letting me pass through during a break. I go inside, peer out from behind the blinds, and watch the next take — part horrified, part thrilled, hoping not to end up on camera.
I lived in that house for thirteen months while doing an internship in London. I walked that route home hundreds of times. But the only walk I remember — is that one.
Why?
Because there was drama.
And that, right there, is the lesson for public speakers. If your audience doesn’t remember you, what’s the point of presenting at all?
I’m not suggesting you show up to your next business pitch dressed like a zombie (unless it’s Halloween and you’re feeling brave). But I am suggesting that you inject life — or dare I say, bring your talk back to life — by adding a bit of drama.
Here’s how you can do that:
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Tell stories – People forget slides, but they remember stories. Use them.
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Use humour – Not forced jokes, but the natural humour in real situations.
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Bring energy – A speaker with energy immediately commands attention.
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Craft memorable lines – Sometimes your audience will only remember one sentence. Make it count.
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Make eye contact – Sounds simple. But it’s rare. And powerful.
If we want to be memorable, we have to stand out.
Are we doing something different?
Are we making our message stick?
Drama isn’t just cool — it’s effective.
And a zombie apocalypse? Even better.