---
title: Is a Smart Presenter Always Better?
description: Is a Smart Presenter Always Better?
---

[Blog | Brainzooming ](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog)

# [Is a Smart Presenter Always Better?](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/how-do-you-feel-after-sitting-through-a-presentation)

 Written by [Mike Brown](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/author/mike-brown) | Aug 19, 2010 9:50:11 AM

After a recent Marketing Profs virtual event [with content of varied quality](http://lindawhitehead.ca/?p=448#comment-1955) (the Radian 6 presentation was surprisingly weak), I tweeted the question:** Do you prefer to feel smarter than or not as smart as the speaker in a presentation?**

The **people responding** said they** preferred to NOT feel as smart as the presenter**. There are certainly good reasons for that, since **when a presenter is clearly smarter than you** on the topic being discussed, it's **more likely you'll be**:

- **Learning** new things
- **Stimulated mentally** by the session
- Able to see **where you have learning gaps** to work on
- Aware of at least **one new person to reach out to** in shoring up expertise you don't have

There** can also be some downsides to attending a presentation where the speaker is markedly smarter than the audience.** It may be **more difficult for the speaker to genuinely connect with the audience** because of difficulties in simplifying the message for those still learning. There** can also be a self-defeating sense** you should be smarter or stronger than you are on a topic. In that case, you can walk away feeling worse about yourself.

Alternatively, if you're stuck in **a presentation failing to live up to the learning objective** and you can't easily get out of it (i.e., by quitting a webinar or walking out to go to another session), is there value that can be taken away? I think there's** still value to be drived** in two specific areas:

- Use a too-basic presentation as a **refresher on the fundamentals** you may be overlooking when attempting to teach others on the topic.
- This type of presentation can also be the basis for putting your knowledge in context relative to the presenter, and **gaining greater confidence in sharing your expertise** with others in new settings.

The bottom line -** figure out how to learn from everyone, in every situation**, even if it's no more than better understanding what not to do. – [*Mike Brown*](https://www.brainzooming.com/?page_id=1197)

***If you'd like to add [an interactive, educationally-stimulating presentation on strategy, innovation, branding, social media or a variety of other topics to your event, Mike Brown is the answer](https://www.brainzooming.com/?page_id=1140).*** *** Email us at *[*brainzooming@gmail.com*](mailto:brainzooming@gmail.com)* or call 816-509-5320 to learn how Mike can get your audience members Brainzooming!***

[View full post](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/how-do-you-feel-after-sitting-through-a-presentation)

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