9 Presentation Sins

Nine presentations sins—and how to avoid them…

1. Wasting time… Start on time and finish on time.
2. Boring your audience… Given key points they can digest. Don’t read your speech. Packaged information with your voice, body language and style to make it interesting.
3. Lacking passion… Believe in your message and let your audience know. How much you believe in it. Passion is captivating, contagious and more convincing than logic.
4. Confusing your audience… Keep their message clear: eliminates. Unnecessary information and conflicting messages. Use words, they understand. Repeat your message three times.
5. Insulting your audience…Talk to them, but not down to them. .don’t make jokes about the audience. Don’t assume that you know what they think, no or have done.
6. Unclear purpose/message… Ask yourself why you’re giving the speech. Be able to state your message in one short clear phrase. Then build your presentation around that… if you can’t don’t.
7. Information overload… Give them what they need to know to do. What you want them to do. Don’t overload them with too much information.
8. Stuck in a rut of delivery…Unable to flex to the audience… be prepared to alter your presentation to reach the audience in a way that is best for them.. It is not about you, you must reach them with your message.
9. Using slides that are boring, irrelevant or confusing…. Are only visual aids that reinforce your message? Power will never rescue you from a poor presentation skills. You are your best messenger.

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