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Common Presentation Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Common Pitfalls in Presentations Presentations

Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

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Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

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Page 1: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Common Presentation Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Common Pitfalls in

PresentationsPresentations

Page 2: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Common Presentation Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Common Pitfalls in

PresentationsPresentations

Page 3: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

IntroductionIntroduction

Most of us have experienced Most of us have experienced dull, irrelevant, or confusing dull, irrelevant, or confusing presentations. But think back to presentations. But think back to the last really great the last really great presentation you saw – one that presentation you saw – one that was informative, motivating, was informative, motivating, and inspiring. Wouldn't you love and inspiring. Wouldn't you love to be able to present like that?to be able to present like that?

Page 4: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

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This article looks at 10 of the This article looks at 10 of the most common mistakes that most common mistakes that speakers make when giving speakers make when giving presentations. By avoiding these, presentations. By avoiding these, you'll make your presentations you'll make your presentations stand out – for all of the right stand out – for all of the right reasons, and none of the wrong reasons, and none of the wrong ones.ones.

Page 5: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Not Preparing EnoughNot Preparing Enough

Steve Jobs was a famously inspiring Steve Jobs was a famously inspiring speaker. His speeches may have speaker. His speeches may have looked effortless, but, in reality, each looked effortless, but, in reality, each one took days or weeks of one took days or weeks of preparation.preparation.

Careful preparation is essential. The Careful preparation is essential. The amount of time you spend on amount of time you spend on planning depends on your situation, planning depends on your situation, but it's a good idea to start early – you but it's a good idea to start early – you can never be too well-prepared.can never be too well-prepared.

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Proper preparation also Proper preparation also helps you manage helps you manage presentation nerves  .   . When you know your When you know your material inside and out, material inside and out, you're far less likely to you're far less likely to feel nervous. feel nervous.

Page 7: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Not Familiarizing Not Familiarizing Yourself With the Venue Yourself With the Venue

and Equipmentand Equipment Imagine that your presentation starts Imagine that your presentation starts

in an hour. You arrive at the venue in an hour. You arrive at the venue and, to your horror, the projector and, to your horror, the projector won't work with your laptop. The slides won't work with your laptop. The slides you spent hours preparing are useless. you spent hours preparing are useless. This is a disaster!This is a disaster!

You can avoid a situation like this by You can avoid a situation like this by taking time to familiarize yourself with taking time to familiarize yourself with the venue and available equipment at the venue and available equipment at least once before your presentation.least once before your presentation.

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Often, the sort of problems that Often, the sort of problems that can jeopardize your presentation can jeopardize your presentation will be situations beyond your will be situations beyond your control, but this doesn't mean that control, but this doesn't mean that you are helpless. Conduct a you are helpless. Conduct a risk analysis   to identify potential    to identify potential issues, and come up with a good issues, and come up with a good "Plan B"   for each one.   for each one.

Page 9: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Ignoring Your AudienceIgnoring Your Audience

Sometimes, speakers can get so wrapped up in Sometimes, speakers can get so wrapped up in delivering their presentations that they forget delivering their presentations that they forget about the needs of their audience.about the needs of their audience.

Start your presentation by telling your audience Start your presentation by telling your audience what to expect. Let them know what you will what to expect. Let them know what you will cover first, whether and when you'll stop for a cover first, whether and when you'll stop for a break, if you'll be taking questions during the break, if you'll be taking questions during the presentation, and so on.presentation, and so on.

Providing these "signposts" up front will give Providing these "signposts" up front will give your audience a clear idea of what to expect, so your audience a clear idea of what to expect, so that they can relax and concentrate on your that they can relax and concentrate on your presentation.presentation.

Page 10: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Using Inappropriate Using Inappropriate ContentContent

The primary purpose of any presentation is to The primary purpose of any presentation is to share information with others, so it's important share information with others, so it's important to consider the level you will pitch it at.to consider the level you will pitch it at.

Do some research on your audience - Why are Do some research on your audience - Why are they here? How much do they already know they here? How much do they already know about your topic, and what do they most want about your topic, and what do they most want to learn from you? It's no use giving a to learn from you? It's no use giving a presentation that is so full of presentation that is so full of jargon   that no    that no one understands you. But you wouldn't want one understands you. But you wouldn't want to patronize people, eitherto patronize people, either..

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Try to put yourself in people's shoes, to Try to put yourself in people's shoes, to get a clearer idea about their needs and get a clearer idea about their needs and motivations. You can also greet motivations. You can also greet individuals as they arrive on the day, individuals as they arrive on the day, and ask and ask questions   to get a feel for their    to get a feel for their level of knowledge. This will also help level of knowledge. This will also help you to personalize your presentation and you to personalize your presentation and make a connection with each person in make a connection with each person in your audience, so that they'll be more your audience, so that they'll be more attentive to what you say.attentive to what you say.

Page 12: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Being Too VerboseBeing Too Verbose

Short, concise presentations Short, concise presentations are often more powerful than are often more powerful than verbose ones. Try to limit verbose ones. Try to limit yourself to a few main points. yourself to a few main points. If you take too long getting to If you take too long getting to your point, you risk losing your your point, you risk losing your audience's attention.audience's attention.

Page 13: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Cont….Cont….The average adult has a 15- to 20-The average adult has a 15- to 20-minute attention span, so, if you minute attention span, so, if you want to keep your audience want to keep your audience engaged, stick to the point! During engaged, stick to the point! During the planning phase, make a note of the planning phase, make a note of the themes you want to cover and the themes you want to cover and how you want to get them across. how you want to get them across. Then, when you start filling out the Then, when you start filling out the details, ask yourself: "Does my details, ask yourself: "Does my audience really need to know this?audience really need to know this?""

Page 14: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Using Ineffective VisualsUsing Ineffective Visuals Poor slides can spoil a good presentation, so Poor slides can spoil a good presentation, so

it's worth spending time getting yours right.it's worth spending time getting yours right. We've all seen slides with garish colors, We've all seen slides with garish colors,

unnecessary animation, or fonts that are too unnecessary animation, or fonts that are too small to read. The most small to read. The most effective presentation visuals   aren't flashy –    aren't flashy – they're concise and consistent.they're concise and consistent.

When choosing colors, think about where the When choosing colors, think about where the presentation will take place. A dark presentation will take place. A dark background with light or white text works best background with light or white text works best in dark rooms, while a white background with in dark rooms, while a white background with dark text is easier to see in a brightly lit roomdark text is easier to see in a brightly lit room..

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Choose your pictures carefully, too. High-Choose your pictures carefully, too. High-quality graphics can clarify complex quality graphics can clarify complex information and lift an otherwise plain information and lift an otherwise plain screen, but low quality images can make screen, but low quality images can make your presentation appear unprofessional. your presentation appear unprofessional. Unless an image is contributing Unless an image is contributing something, embrace the negative space – something, embrace the negative space – less clutter means greater understanding. less clutter means greater understanding. Use animation sparingly, too – a dancing Use animation sparingly, too – a dancing logo or emoticon will only distract your logo or emoticon will only distract your audience.audience.

Page 16: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Overcrowding TextOvercrowding Text

The best rule of thumb for text The best rule of thumb for text is to is to keep it simple  . Don't try   . Don't try to cram too much information to cram too much information into your slides. Aim for a into your slides. Aim for a maximum of three to four maximum of three to four words within each bullet point, words within each bullet point, and no more than three bullets and no more than three bullets per slideper slide

Page 17: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Cont….Cont….This doesn't mean that you This doesn't mean that you should spread your content over should spread your content over dozens of slides. Limit yourself to dozens of slides. Limit yourself to 10 slides or fewer for a 30-10 slides or fewer for a 30-minute presentation. Look at minute presentation. Look at each slide, story, or graph each slide, story, or graph carefully. Ask yourself what it carefully. Ask yourself what it adds to the presentation, and adds to the presentation, and remove it if it isn't important.remove it if it isn't important.

Page 18: Presentation mistakes Common Presentation Mistakes : Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Presentations

Speaking IncoherentlySpeaking Incoherently

Even though we spend a Even though we spend a significant part of the day significant part of the day talking to one another, talking to one another, speaking to an audience is speaking to an audience is a surprisingly difficult skill, a surprisingly difficult skill, and it's one that we need to and it's one that we need to practice.practice.

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If nerves make you rush through a If nerves make you rush through a presentation, your audience could presentation, your audience could miss your most important points. miss your most important points. Use Use centering   or    or deep breathing   techniques to suppress the urge to    techniques to suppress the urge to rush. If you do begin to babble, take rush. If you do begin to babble, take a moment to collect yourself. Breathe a moment to collect yourself. Breathe deeply, and enunciate each word deeply, and enunciate each word clearly, while you focus on speaking clearly, while you focus on speaking more slowlymore slowly

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Cont….Cont….  Better public speakingBetter public speaking   has    has strategies and tips that you can use strategies and tips that you can use to become a more engaging speaker. to become a more engaging speaker. One useful technique One useful technique is is storytellingstorytelling   – stories can be    – stories can be powerful tools for inspiring and powerful tools for inspiring and engaging others. Expert Interviews engaging others. Expert Interviews withwithAnnette SimmonsAnnette Simmons and  and Paul Paul SmithSmith have tips that you can use to  have tips that you can use to tell great stories.tell great stories.

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Showing a Lack of Showing a Lack of DynamismDynamism

Another common mistake is to freeze Another common mistake is to freeze in one spot for the duration of your in one spot for the duration of your presentation.presentation.

Some presenters feel most Some presenters feel most comfortable behind the podium. Try comfortable behind the podium. Try to emulate great speakers like to emulate great speakers like Steve Steve JobsJobs, who moved purposefully around , who moved purposefully around the stage during his presentations.the stage during his presentations.

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Cont….Cont…. As well as working the stage, he used As well as working the stage, he used

gestures and gestures and body languagebody language   to    to communicate his excitement and communicate his excitement and passion for his subject. Pay attention passion for his subject. Pay attention to what your hands are doing – to what your hands are doing – they're important for communicating they're important for communicating emotion. But only use gestures if they emotion. But only use gestures if they feel natural, and avoid being too feel natural, and avoid being too flamboyant with your arms, unless flamboyant with your arms, unless you want to make your audience you want to make your audience laugh!laugh!

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Avoiding Eye ContactAvoiding Eye Contact Have you ever been to a presentation where the Have you ever been to a presentation where the

speaker spent all of his time looking at his notes, speaker spent all of his time looking at his notes, the screen, the floor, or even at the ceiling? How the screen, the floor, or even at the ceiling? How did this make you feel?did this make you feel?

Meeting a person's gaze establishes a personal Meeting a person's gaze establishes a personal connection, and even a quick glance can keep connection, and even a quick glance can keep people engaged. If your audience is small people engaged. If your audience is small enough, try to make eye contact with each enough, try to make eye contact with each individual at least once.individual at least once.

If the audience is too large for this, try looking at If the audience is too large for this, try looking at people's foreheads. The individual may not people's foreheads. The individual may not interpret it as eye contact, but those sitting interpret it as eye contact, but those sitting around them will.around them will.

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ConclusionConclusion

It takes practice and effort to It takes practice and effort to deliver a good presentation. But, if deliver a good presentation. But, if you know how to avoid the pitfalls, you know how to avoid the pitfalls, your presentations will be great.your presentations will be great.

Common presentation mistakes Common presentation mistakes include not preparing properly, include not preparing properly, delivering inappropriate content, delivering inappropriate content, and speaking poorly.and speaking poorly.

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Time spent on careful planning always Time spent on careful planning always pays dividends. Check the venue out, pays dividends. Check the venue out, and familiarize yourself with equipment and familiarize yourself with equipment in advance to avoid possible problems.in advance to avoid possible problems.

Keep your content clear and concise, Keep your content clear and concise, with visual aids to match. And make with visual aids to match. And make sure that you pitch it at the right level sure that you pitch it at the right level for your audience's understanding, so for your audience's understanding, so that your presentation doesn't patronize that your presentation doesn't patronize or bewilderor bewilder..

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Remember, public speaking is a Remember, public speaking is a performance. Practice speaking clearly with performance. Practice speaking clearly with a slower pace than your normal speech to a slower pace than your normal speech to avoid "rapid-fire" delivery. Use eye contact, avoid "rapid-fire" delivery. Use eye contact, body language, and gestures that body language, and gestures that complement your message to keep your complement your message to keep your audience engaged.audience engaged.

Next time you speak, avoid the mistakes Next time you speak, avoid the mistakes outlined in this article – you'll find you can outlined in this article – you'll find you can present with confidence and a clear sense of present with confidence and a clear sense of purpose.purpose.