Nine errors to avoid in your next presentation

Bad presentations tend to stick in the memory for all the wrong reasons.

We can probably all recall sitting through dull, lifeless presentations where we would rather be anywhere else. 

Yet when it comes to taking the stage ourselves, many of us struggle to learn from what we have seen before.

So, how can this vicious circle be stopped?

Uninspiring beginnings

Yes, we know it sounds shallow.

But when you are presenting, your audience will form an almost instant impression.

And it is only when you look and sound like you know what you are talking about that they will pay attention.

So how you start is vital. 

And that means avoiding tapping the microphone and asking whether people at the back can hear. Not only is it boring, but it also doesn’t create the impression of someone who will communicate with confidence, cohesion and clarity.

Similarly, opening with a phrase like ‘I haven’t had a lot of time to prepare’ or ‘I’ll keep it brief’, does not suggest you are taking the opportunity seriously or that the audience will get much out of the presentation.

Reading your slides

One of the easiest ways for a presenter to lose their audience is by reading straight from their slides.

There is nothing engaging about reading from a screen to a packed room.

Reading aloud is not presenting.

It also creates the perception that the presenter lacks confidence or is unfamiliar with the subject they are discussing. It feels pretty lazy.

There’s also an argument that if all you are going to do is read aloud, then you may as well just send the presentation as an email.

As we stress during our presentation skills training courses, one way to avoid this mistake is to restrict the text on your slides to a few key words or ideas.

This will remove the temptation to read them. The slides are not the presentation - they are there to support what you say.

Timing

Remember sitting through that presentation that overran?

Or that one where the presenter realised time was running out and raced through the remaining part of what they wanted to say?

Neither left a good impression, did they? 

When a presentation overruns, people get restless and think about the next thing in their calendar. Or how they will get through their to-do list. Their attention has gone. 

And finishing early leaves people feeling short-changed. What would they have got from the rest of the presentation if it had been given the time it deserved?

Poor timekeeping suggests a lack of preparation and is something audiences find hugely annoying. 

Jargon and acronyms

Jargon and acronyms are a threat to every presentation.

Every industry has its own phrases and shortcuts, which enable colleagues to talk quickly..

Shared language can help us connect. 

But it can also divide us if not everyone knows what things mean.

Jargon and acronyms in a presentation will invariably be meaningless to those who do not work in that sector.

If your audience does not understand these phrases and acronyms, they will become distracted and stop following what you are saying.

It creates a barrier between the audience and the message you want to get across.

Corporate boardroom jargon, like ‘paradigm shift', ‘cascade’, 'pain points' and ‘drill down’, also frustrates audiences and causes mistrust.

During our presentation skills training courses, we highlight the importance of speakers using everyday language to ensure that their message resonates.

The question of questions

The question and answer session at the end of a presentation is something many presenters dread.

People fear losing control or being caught out by a question they cannot answer. The nerves kick in, and there is plenty of scope here to undo all the good work that has gone before.

But questions are generally a good sign. They show the audience is interested, is paying attention and wants to know more.

The key to success is to make sure you have done your research and have spent time anticipating the questions which are likely to come up in response to what you have been discussing. And any broader issues which could be brought into the conversation.

We also bring media training techniques into our presentation skills courses to help presenters do just this, and retain control.

Handouts

How many times have you sat down at the start of a presentation and spent the first few minutes flicking through the handouts?

I’ve done it plenty of times.

But here's the problem.

While your audience is reading through the material you have given them, they are not listening to what you are saying.

By dishing out your handouts at the start, you are giving your audience a distraction.

Leave them until the end.

Vague call to action

Business leaders and senior managers give presentations that are professional, articulate, and well-crafted. The audience listens and is impressed with the speaker.

So far, so good.

But what happens when they leave the room for coffee? When they check their phones? Or when they return to their desks? 

Will they know what you want them to do next?

A common presentation problem is the lack of a clear call to action or path forward.

Without this, your audience might remember a few facts.

But they will not know what you want them to change or do, how they can help, or where they should start.

Be specific with your audience about what you want them to do, show them how easy it is to take that action and stress the impact it could have.

Bad stock photos

Business people on a running track.

An arrow hitting the bullseye.

The weird handstack.

We've all seen presentations with images like these. 

It happens over and over again, 

And it just feels lazy and unimaginative. 

Rather than relying on this tired material, aim for pictures which are unique and meaningful and will actually help the audience remember the point you are trying to get across.

Technical difficulties

How many times have you heard a presenter say to the audience ‘bear with me’ while they frantically fiddle with a cable?

Media First are media and communications training specialists with more than 40 years of experience.

We have a team of trainers, each with decades of experience working as journalists, presenters, communications and leadership coaches, and media trainers. 

Discover more about our presentation skills training.