Stop doing this, please.

The Case Against Starting with an Agenda Slide.

There is nothing more boring than a typical Agenda slide at the beginning of a presentation. Think about this: you’re at a conference. You’ve read the abstract of the speaker coming up next, you’re interested in their work and this particular talk. You know the title, and you have a ‘good’ idea of what the rest is going to be about. Finally, it’s time for the speaker to take the stage. You’re a little excited. The burned conference coffee is also kicking in at just the right moment. Let’s go! 🤓

What does a typical speaker do?

After presenting themselves in the most monotonous way, they usually say which institution they’re from, read the title of the presentation (typically, turning back to the screen to see and read it), and… show us the Agenda slide! As if all the preceding dullness wasn’t enough, this is the final nail in the coffin. 😑

It is imperative to grab and hold your audience’s attention within the first minute of your talk. Later, it’s important to maintain a narrative that keeps people awake and engaged, but that first minute is crucial. You simply cannot afford to be boring.

Why is it so Boring?

It’s simple: your Agenda slide is totally predictable in 99% of cases. The vast majority of STEM professionals use the same structure in their presentations:

• Introduction – Also labelled as ‘background’ or ‘context’, and sometimes “creatively” rebranded as ‘motivation’.

• Method

• Results

• Conclusion – Occasionally combined with ‘discussion’.

• Outlook – Less common but still familiar.

“Once you become predictable, no one's interested anymore.” - Chet Atkins 🎸

The above structure is expected, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with it. But why spend your audience’s precious attention span on a slide that just reiterates what they already know? Most presenters show a slide with these 4–5 words and then spend a whole minute saying: “Today, I’m going to present the motivations behind this study…, its methodology…, the results…, and a discussion.” There’s nothing more effective at killing audience interest.

Actually, there is: when a speaker has prepared an Agenda slide and then skips over it during the presentation. You see the slide pop up, only to hear: “Well, we can skip this; it’s just the Agenda.” Next time, skip it altogether and go straight to your point! 🛑

Now, Let’s Clarify Something

I’m not asking you to ignore your agenda entirely. Nor am I suggesting you find new words to replace the standard sections. I’m simply asking you not to waste time showing a predictable Agenda slide to your audience.

So What Should You Do?

➡️ If your agenda is typical and predictable (as is often the case in technical presentations), don’t dedicate an entire slide to it during your talk. Most importantly, don’t waste the first minute of your audience’s attention on it. That first minute determines how closely they’ll listen to the rest of your presentation. Spend it wisely.

➡️ I suggest you tell an anecdote, ask a compelling question, or share a surprising fact about the topic. You can make links between the interest behind your study and the final results, or how you obtained them by sharing a story. Ask the audience, by a show of hands, to tell you if they can relate! 🙌 This draws the audience in while still introducing the presentation structure in a more engaging way.

So, Never Show an Agenda Slide?

Not exactly. In this letter, I’ve focused on typical conference-style presentations. If your presentation includes something unexpected, you can show an Agenda slide to highlight that exciting part coming up.

An Agenda slide is also useful for longer presentations and lectures. It helps your audience connect the dots. For instance, during a thesis defence, keynote lecture, or extended seminar, consider using a detailed outline to show the progression of your content as your presentation unfolds. This helps people see the bigger picture and how the sections flow from A to B to Z.

Final Thoughts

Everything you say and show during a presentation should serve the purpose of bridging the (knowledge) gap between you and your audience. Keep their interest and engagement throughout. To achieve that, you need to start strong. Don’t make the mistake of losing their attention right at the start with a boring Agenda slide. Use that time to captivate them, and only show your agenda if it adds real value or clarity.

Your Coach,

Yulia