u/WillingnessBetter956

I’m curious how people handle non-linear moments during presentations. In real presentations, I often need to jump back to an earlier slide, skip a section, or revisit a diagram/data slide during Q&A. Do you usually memorize slide numbers, prepare backup slides, manually search for the right slide, or just answer without showing it again?

I’m also wondering whether voice-based slide navigation, like saying “go back to the market size slide” or “show the architecture diagram,” would actually be useful in a real presentation, or if it would feel awkward.

Around my uni and startup circles here in Korea, people tend to write out these super detailed scripts for presentations. But honestly, it almost never goes according to plan. You end up skipping a point, mixing up the order, getting interrupted, or having to jump back a few slides.

For me, the hardest part isn’t even the public speaking itself. It’s the mental juggling—trying to figure out where I am in my script, what I just missed, what I need to say next, and making sure my slide actually matches what’s coming out of my mouth.

So I’m curious: do experienced presenters actually stick to a script, or are you mostly just winging it off some bullet points? Also, for Q&A, if someone brings up an earlier slide, do you usually flip back to it or just answer on the spot?