What Professional Speakers Do That Makes Audiences Cringe (And How to Avoid It)

I've spent over 25 years speaking on stages across 40 countries, served as President of two National Speaker Associations (Singapore & Spain), and witnessed thousands of presentations. In that time, I've seen brilliant speakers move audiences to tears and action. I've also watched talented speakers undermine their own credibility with behaviors that make audiences uncomfortable or even resentful.

Here's the truth: the audience knows when you're being authentic and when you're manipulating them. They can smell manufactured moments from a mile away. And while you might get away with some of these tactics once or twice, they erode trust and diminish your impact over time.

Let me share the speaker behaviors that consistently make me (and audiences) cringe, along with what to do instead.

The Forced Response

"I can't hear you!" the speaker shouts from the stage. "I said, Good morning! Let me hear you say GOOD MORNING!"

This is perhaps my biggest pet peeve. Forcing an audience to respond, to shout back at you, to prove they're awake and engaged is disrespectful. You're treating adults like children who need prodding to participate. The audience didn't come to be your performing seals.

Real engagement comes from delivering content so valuable and relevant that the audience leans in naturally. It comes from asking thoughtful questions that make people think, not from demanding they yell back at you. If you need to bully your audience into responding, the problem isn't with them. It's with your content.

Do this instead: Earn engagement through relevance. Use genuine questions that provoke thought. Create space for reflection. Trust that your audience is engaged even when they're quiet.

The Manufactured Standing Ovation

Few things are more transparent than a speaker engineering their own standing ovation. You've seen it. The speaker finishes by requesting that the audience get to their feet, or have a planted colleague jump to their feet immediately, and then makes eye contact with various sections of the audience while holding the microphone expectantly. The pressure builds. People stand because they feel they have to, not because they want to.

A genuine standing ovation is a gift from the audience. It's their choice to honor you with that level of appreciation. When you manipulate it, you're stealing that moment rather than earning it.

Do this instead: Finish strong, thank the audience sincerely, and accept whatever response comes naturally. A heartfelt round of applause from a seated audience is far more meaningful than a coerced standing ovation.

The Humble Brag Introduction

"Now, I don't usually mention this, but..." followed by a recitation of impressive credentials is both transparent and off-putting. We all know what you're doing. You're trying to establish credibility while pretending to be modest about it.

Do this instead: Let your introducer handle your credentials, or weave your relevant experience naturally into your stories. Better yet, demonstrate your expertise through the quality of your insights rather than the length of your resume.

The Guilt-Driven Call to Action

"If you don't implement what I've shared today, you're letting down your team, your family, yourself..." This approach attempts to shame people into action. It assumes the audience is lazy or unmotivated rather than busy, overwhelmed, or facing legitimate constraints.

Alternatively: Inspire action by painting a compelling picture of what's possible. Make your call to action specific, achievable, and connected to their genuine desires and values.

The Personal Story That Goes Nowhere

We've all sat through the speaker's lengthy personal anecdote, waiting for the insight or lesson, only to realize there isn't one. The story was just about the speaker being interesting (or so they thought). Your audience didn't come to hear about your fascinating life. They came to improve theirs.

Remember: Every story must serve the audience. The test is simple: "What's the insight here that helps them?" If you can't answer that clearly, cut the story.

The Oversold Promise

"This one technique will transform your business overnight." "After this session, you'll never struggle with leadership again." These hyperbolic promises might fill the room initially, but they ultimately lead to disappointment and erode your credibility.

A better plan: Make honest, specific promises you can keep. "You'll leave with three practical strategies you can implement this week" is far more credible than promising instant transformation.

The Audience Shaming

"How many of you are on your phones right now? Come on, people, pay attention!" Or the passive-aggressive version: "I know some of you are checking emails, but for those who are actually present..."

If audience members are disengaging, that's feedback. Maybe your content isn't relevant to them. Maybe you've been speaking too long. Maybe they have a genuine emergency. Shaming them won't bring them back. It will just make everyone uncomfortable.

Do this instead: Deliver such compelling content that phones naturally go away. Vary your pacing and delivery. Take a break if energy is flagging. Respect that adults manage their own attention.

The Fake Spontaneity

"I wasn't planning to share this, but..." before launching into a clearly rehearsed bit. Or the speaker who "just happens" to have the perfect prop for this "spontaneous" moment. Audiences aren't stupid. They know when something is scripted.

Do this instead: Own your preparation. It's okay for your audience to know you've thought deeply about your message. Genuine spontaneity comes from how you respond to the room, not from pretending your prepared material is improvised.

Why This Matters

These behaviors all stem from the same root issue: putting the speaker's needs (for validation, applause, control) ahead of the audience's needs (for insight, respect, value). The most powerful speakers I've encountered across four decades understand that their role is to serve, not to perform.

When you eliminate these manipulative tactics, something remarkable happens. You create space for genuine connection. You build real trust. You deliver lasting impact rather than momentary entertainment.

Your audience will remember how you made them feel far longer than they'll remember what you said. Make sure what they feel is respected, valued, and genuinely served.

That's when the standing ovations come naturally. And when they do, they mean something.

Now, I wasn't planning to mention this, but if you're looking for a speaker who promises to completely transform your organization overnight without any effort on your part, you should probably look elsewhere.

However, if you want a keynote that treats your audience with respect, delivers practical insights they can actually use, and doesn't require them to stand up and shout at 8 am... well, I suppose you could visit www.andrewbryantspeaker.com.

No pressure, though. I'm sure you'll make the right decision for your event. (See what I did there?)