When a presentation is met with confusion, it’s an opportunity to clarify, engage, and improve. Start by actively listening to the feedback—identify which points were unclear or misunderstood. Encourage open dialogue to pinpoint specific areas of confusion rather than making assumptions. Acknowledge the feedback with humility and professionalism—owning any lack of clarity builds trust. Follow up with a clear, concise summary that re-explains key concepts using simpler language, real-world examples, or visual aids to reinforce understanding. Adapt your communication style to match your audience—some may prefer data-driven details, while others benefit from high-level takeaways.

Think about whether the main reason is because you introduced new concepts or it was confusing in general. If you talked about something new, think what message is relevant for that audience and deliver that first. That will trigger more questions which then will allow you to address the rest. This often happens when you talk to your team about something new. If it is confusing in general, but the topic is right, it is a matter of delivery. Break it down to simple concepts and focus on those

If your presentation confused people, start by asking them what confused them and make sure you listen carefully to their feedback. Ask them what part wasn’t clear and thank them for sharing their thoughts. Then, explain your ideas again and this time make sure you use simple words, and examples they can relate to. Break down big ideas into smaller, easy steps, that helps them simplify the entire concept and grasp it in an easier fashion. If needed, use visuals, pictures, anecdotes or stories to make your points clearer. Always check if they understand by clarifying if they grasped the overall concept or not. If they are still unclear paraphrase their question to ensure you have understood their concern clearly and explain again.

It’s normal for a presentation to leave some people confused. It happens to the best of us! The key is how we navigate the feedback and improve. Here’s how you can turn confusion into clarity: 1️⃣ Clarify Your Key Message – Simplify your main points. If it’s not clear to you, it won’t be clear to them. 2️⃣ Engage, Don’t Just Inform – Ask questions, use analogies, and involve your audience. 3️⃣ Check for Understanding – Pause and ask, "Does this make sense?" before moving forward. 4️⃣ Visuals Over Text – Use simple graphics, not slides overloaded with words. 5️⃣ Practice & Adjust – Rehearse your delivery and refine based on feedback. Note: A great presentation isn’t about what you say—it’s about what your audience understands!

One thing I have found useful is working ahead, that is get adequately prepared before you meet the audience. Start by explaining why you are under taking the discussion. State clearly the gaps, the aim and objectives. You can further narrate the significance and then draw out the scope, delimit from the scope of the discuss. I believe this will arrest the situation.