We've already written about the most typical mistakes that speakers use to make. Learn more here 5 Typical Speaker's Mistakes
You – and everyone – can make critical presentation mistakes not only in your behavior, gestures or manner of speaking as we've said before. Today we are not going to talk about gestures, postures and even about speaker's behavior. We'll discuss the process of presenting: preparation, design, attitude and audience's reaction. What are the most common mistakes in your presentation?
Overplaying with improvisation
You rely on your knowledge of the topic and your talent of storytelling. As the result, you neglect writing down the scenario and the schedule of your presentation. You expect that everything will go great by itself, but it doesn't happen, with very rare exceptions. Do not expect that this time the presentation will be perfect just because you came there to perform. Sure, it is a good idea to improvise, but the actors say: "The best improvisation is a very good prepared improvisation". Think about it. You should be prepared and have a plan. Improvise only when you control your timing and information outcome.
Presenting slides, not yourself
Remember – YOU are the presentation. Not your slides. It is normal if someone asks you to read a text that is written on a slide, but don't continue reading. Your slides are helpers, additional benefits in your story and presentation. Slides should never replace your expression, your personality, your passion in the work you are doing. The presentation is made by the person, and then by the information. Allow your personality to shine, and no one will notice even a grammatical error on your slide (just kidding, better also to avoid it). The most deadly sin of a speaker is to read. Never ever read your slides!
Neglecting of time limits
To begin later and to end later are the most disrespectful (and completely annoying) things you can do to your audience. Every professional always controls his timing and spends a lot of time to practice and rehearse with a clock or timer – to tell everything he should tell in the measures of the time limits. You may sparkle and speak about the most interesting things in the world, but if you speak too long, all the impression of your presentation will be strictly spoiled. Make everything you can to avoid time problems, better to prepare to speak a little bit less than to let yourself to speak more. And ALWAYS (!) start in time – no other variants! To learn more read ours The Best Ways to Keep to Time in a Presentation
No technical checkings
You are already there, standing in front of your audience. You push the "ON" button on your computer and projector and… ta-dam-m… see the blue screen, or it doesn’t switches on at all. Every type of software, hardware, electrical, Internet connection and other technical troubles in the majority of cases are the result of neglecting the preparation and lack of its checking. Sure, the compatibility problems may be the result of a wrong chosen presentation tools or platforms – to avoid these troubles it is better to choose a well-working event platform that doesn’t require any installation, for example, PodioBox. Forget about compatibility issues. Just plug and play.
Playing with bad designs
If you are not a designer and not sure you can combine colors and fonts in harmony, better choose the most simple and pure pattern, without bright or electrifying colors, constantly blinking animation, patterned backgrounds, funny fonts and other details, which will turn the slides into unreadable pictures and will completely destroy a serious impression of your presentation. You shouldn’t overload your slides with text or visual information. The best presentation is always a simple one! Use only 30+ pt fonts, they are the best to read from any corner of the room. Remember that every type of your graphic should illustrate the information. You are not a decorator of Christmas trees. So keep it simple and elegant.
Right people, wrong words
If you are speaking to medical professionals or technical experts, it is absolutely normal and appropriate to use specific terms. But if you are speaking to people with no professional background in your field, use simple words that everyone will understand. Even if your presentation is "for everyone", you should make some corrections every time you present, to show it to the audience in the most comfortable way. This is your goal – to make them understand the topic, isn’t it? In the end of your presentation invite them to speak – to ask questions, and plan some time to answer it.
Respect your audience and they will appreciate you the same way.
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