10 Common Presentation Mistakes
Avoiding Public Speaking Pitfalls

Inspire your audience and get your message across by steering clear of some of the most commonly made presentation errors.

1. Not Preparing Enough

You can never be too well prepared. Get to know your material inside out, and you'll likely feel less nervous during your presentation.

2. Not Familiarizing Yourself With the Venue and Equipment

Take time to get to know your venue and your equipment before your presentation. Have a contingency in place (such as paper handouts) in case of technical problems.

3. Ignoring Your Audience

To put your audience at ease, explain the structure of your presentation before you begin. This could include the main points to be covered, break times, and when to ask questions.

4. Using Inappropriate Content

Why is your audience here? How much does it already know? Ensure you understand what the people attending this event want to get from it.

5. Being Too Verbose

Limit yourself to an in-depth discussion of a few main topics, and keep the presentation concise. Make it last less than 20 minutes, if possible.

6. Using Ineffective Visuals

Poor slides can spoil a good presentation. The most effective visuals aren't flashy - they're concise, consistent, easy to understand.

7. Overcrowding Text

Keep text simple and don't try to cram too much information onto your slides. Aim for a maximum of four words per bullet point, and no more than three bullets points per slide.

8. Speaking Incoherently

When you're speaking to an audience, use centering or deep breathing techniques to stay calm and speak slowly and clearly. Try to pause between points to compose yourself.

9. Showing a Lack of Dynamism

Don't stay stuck in the same spot. Move purposefully around the stage, using body language to communicate excitement and passion.

10. Avoiding Eye Contact

Don't spend the entire talk looking at your notes, the screen, or even the floor. Meeting your audience members' gaze establishes a personal connection, and can help to build empathy.


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