Ever stood in front of a crowd, heart pounding, palms sweaty, and thought, “How did I get myself into this mess?” Public speaking can feel like walking a tightrope, where one misstep could lead to disaster — or so it seems.
But guess what? Most of the time, the difference between a standing ovation and a painful silence comes down to dodging a few common pitfalls.
I’m going to share seven big no-nos that have tripped up many and how steering clear of them can turn your next speaking gig from nerve-wracking to speaking nirvana.
The Seven Killer Presentation No-Nos You’ll Want to Avoid
When I watch people crash and burn in front of crowds or in conference rooms, I feel badly because their failures are so avoidable and their mistakes so easy to fix.
If only they knew what these simple mistakes were!
One example recently was a scientist who spoke at an environmental conference.
He knew a lot about his subject but almost nothing about how to share that knowledge.
Here’s what happened:
- His presentation was designed improperly. He should have started with his conclusion (message) since he never made it to a conclusion.
- He spoke much too long. Forty minutes would have been plenty – twenty minutes of talking and twenty minutes of Q and A.
- He tried to talk about too much.
- He used too many visual aids and used them incorrectly (dense word slides, complex graphics, data-rich charts impossible to read or understand).
- He allowed his presentation to dominate him– and ultimately overwhelm him. He ended up frantically trying to cram a ton of information into our heads, a strategy that had the same likelihood for success as trying to jam an elephant into a golf bag.
- He had no theme (if there’s no theme, chances are you’re not going to be able to remember much of what you just heard).
- It wasn’t going well, and he knew it–for the reasons we’ve discussed—so he came across as uncomfortable and nervous.
Effective public speaking isn’t about having a PhD in “Big Words” or being as charismatic as a movie star. It’s about connecting with your audience and delivering your message clearly and confidently.
So, the next time you’re up to bat, avoid these seven no-nos.
With a little practice, you’ll not only avoid these common public speaking mistakes but also leave your audience inspired and wanting more.
NEXT: Great Leadership Communication – What is it worth?
