It takes less than a minute to know when a presentation is going to be a complete drag and teacher and TikTok creator Meredith McKenzie has officially put language to the quiet suffering many professionals endure during workshops and PD sessions.
In a now-viral video, Meredith outlines the telltale signs that a presentation is about to go downhill and frankly, it’s the kind of commentary that makes you feel seen.
@meredithymckenzie Teacher PD season is approaching…honorable mention for when they tell us to shut our computers #teachersoftiktok #professionaldevelopment #adhd ♬ original sound – Meredith McKenzie
Her first warning? The presenter opens with a forced “Good morning everybody!” followed by an awkward pause and then the classic guilt trip: “Oh come on, we can do better than that!” It’s meant to energise the room. Instead, it signals we’re in for forced engagement and a desperate attempt to boost vibes over value.
Then comes the microphone moment. A bit of static, a fumble, and then the overconfident pivot: “I don’t even need this, right? You can all hear me.” The kind of energy that screams: I don’t need tech because my voice is powerful and commanding. Except it rarely is and now the back row is left straining through an hour-long talk that could’ve just been a PDF.
But perhaps the most dreaded moment of all is when a presenter acknowledges how tired the room looks, nods in false empathy, and then says: “But let’s stand up and get moving!” That moment when you realise you’re about to be forced into an awkward, unnecessary group activity you didn’t ask for and didn’t dress for.
Meredith’s video has resonated with millions, sparking a flood of comments from teachers, office workers, and corporate professionals who all agree: we don’t need a performance, we need purpose.
And it’s not just the delivery that matters. Experts in presentation design have long warned against these exact mistakes, overcompensating with fake enthusiasm, building slides that overwhelm rather than inform, and approaching presentations as personal therapy sessions instead of value-driven communication.
A good presentation doesn’t demand energy from the audience it gives it. It doesn’t try to be your morning coffee; it tries to be your clarity. And most importantly, it respects the one thing professionals value most: their time.
So the next time someone walks on stage and starts with “Can everyone hear me okay?”, maybe take a breath. You might be in for more crowd work than content.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.