Sharing Your Presentation Builds Trust: The Hidden Cost of Holding Back

Not sharing your report or presentation in advance is usually counterproductive.

We have all been there. A big report or presentation is coming up, and someone asks for the slides or the document in advance. The request feels uncomfortable. After all, you worked hard on it, and you want the opportunity to explain it yourself. Yet withholding the material often says more about you than it does about your audience.

The reluctance to share in advance is pervasive. I see it so much among staff and mid-level managers that I accept it as a "rule of thumb" that has always to be overcome. I also see it at the executive level, where even board members don’t want to share their committee work with other board members.

Not sharing your report or presentation in advance is usually counterproductive. In the Communicating with FINESSE® framework, effective communication is for the receiver (the decision maker), not the message sender (you).

Three Common Reasons for Not Sharing

"I worked really hard on this."

Effort is important, but effort alone does not equal impact. When you guard your work too tightly, you signal that the process mattered more than the outcome. Decision makers care about results, not the hours you invested.

"They may not want me to speak if they know the answer."

If your value depends on being the sole messenger, then your credibility is fragile. The danger of being the sole messenger is especially real in high-complexity, high-uncertainty environments. Strong communicators add context, interpretation, and insight—things that cannot be gleaned from slides alone.

"I don't get the chance to highlight my work very often."

Recognition matters. That is a human reality. Yet holding back information to secure attention often backfires. Decision makers are sorting through a handful of other problems similar to yours. They have limited time. Remember, the communication is for them, not about you.

All three of these reasons for not sharing in advance diminish your work. At best, it makes your contribution less clear and less concise. At worst, it risks portraying you as self-absorbed or controlling.

What You Are Indicating About Yourself

When you refuse to share, you send unintended signals:

• You don’t want to give up control. This suggests insecurity rather than confidence.

• You are self-absorbed. The focus shifts from the audience’s needs to your own.

• You are disrespectful. You imply that your colleagues cannot be trusted with the material.

Well-known statistician and technical communicator Edward Tufte famously described the “great reveal” in presentations. That is, the moment when information is unveiled for maximum effect. However, in practice, the great reveal is not useful for complex decisions that take years or months to make. The great reveal usually serves the presenter more than the audience. It prioritizes drama over clarity.

You Are Not As Effective As You Could Be

The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® reminds us that effectiveness in communication comes from balance. Each “bone”—Framing, Illustrating, Nuancing, Engaging, Simplifying, Sequencing, and Emphasizing—works together. Refusing to share in advance disrupts that balance.

In short, not sharing your reports and presentations in advance makes you less effective, not more persuasive.

Share Your Presentation In Advance

Sharing reports and presentations in advance enhances your role, not diminishes it. By giving your audience time to absorb the material, you create space for richer discussion. You demonstrate respect for their intelligence and their time. You also show confidence in your ability to add value beyond the slides.

The FINESSE framework encourages us to think strategically about communication. Sharing in advance is not about giving up control; it is about building trust. It signals that you are confident, collaborative, and focused on outcomes.

Share Your Reports and Information in Advance

The next time you hesitate to share, remember effective communication is not about protecting your spotlight. It is about enabling understanding, fostering dialogue, and building credibility. Reports and presentations are tools, not treasures. You elevate both your message and yourself when you share them openly.

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JD Solomon writes and speaks on decision-making, reliability, risk, and communication for leaders and technical professionals. His work connects technical disciplines with human understanding to help people make better decisions and build stronger systems. Learn more at www.jdsolomonsolutions.com and www.communicatingwithfinesse.com.