Don’t Do This When You Give A Presentation

Have you ever given a presentation that didn’t quite have the impact you were hoping for? Maybe you stumbled over your words, lost your train of thought, or struggled to keep the audience engaged. Giving a successful presentation takes more than just knowing your material – it also requires effective delivery and engagement with your audience. In this blog, we’ll explore common mistakes that can hinder the success of your presentations and provide solutions to help you avoid them in the future. Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or new to the game, these tips will help you deliver a more polished and impactful presentation.

What Happens When You Overdeliver

When giving a presentation, there is a tendency to want to over deliver, stressing oneself and overwhelming the audience. The human mind can only process so much, and overdoing a presentation can lead to disorganization and confusion.

Learning from Mistakes

One speaker shared their experience of covering too much ground in a presentation, including a guitar song and a comedy bit, which led to discombobulation and a messy outcome. Since then, they have focused on narrowing down their content to two or three key points to ensure clarity and avoid overwhelming the audience.

The Conflict of Giving Value

The desire to give value often results in the temptation to overcrowd a presentation with information. However, this paradox can confuse the audience and cause information overload. It is essential to fight the instinct of over-stuffing a presentation, focusing on being concise and impactful instead.

The Importance of Editing

Several presenters struggle with over-preparing and the fear of not delivering enough. However, allowing time to edit down the content, removing unnecessary tangents, and focusing on the essence of the presentation can alleviate stress and improve the overall quality of delivery.

Adjusting Perspective

A shift in perspective can also alleviate the pressure of constantly seeking the newest and greatest content. Recognizing that even middle or bottom shelf content can be valuable to the audience can ease anxiety and allow presenters to focus on sharing what they already know, which may be new and inspiring to others.

Understanding Cognitive Bias

Many presenters fall into the trap of assuming that what they know is common knowledge, forgetting that there was a time when they didn’t possess that information. Recognizing this cognitive bias allows presenters to appreciate the value of their own knowledge and share it with humility.

Don’t Do This When You Give A Presentation

Q: Should I read directly from my slides during a presentation?

A: No, reading directly from your slides can be boring for your audience and make it seem like you don’t really know your topic well.

Q: Is it okay to use too much text on slides?

A: No, using too much text can overwhelm your audience and make it difficult for them to focus on what you’re saying.

Q: Should I make jokes or use humor during a presentation?

A: It’s okay to use humor, but be cautious as not everyone may find your jokes funny. Avoid offensive or inappropriate jokes altogether.

Q: Is it okay to use too many animations and transitions?

A: No, using too many can be distracting and take away from the content of your presentation.

Q: Should I avoid making eye contact with the audience?

A: No, making eye contact with your audience can help you connect with them and keep them engaged.

I hope you find useful my article Don’t Do This When You Give A Presentation, I also recommend you to read my other posts in my blog.

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