7 Public Speaking Mistakes that will RUIN Your Presentation

This list was not written in any particular order of importance, but when I decided to create an article on this topic, this mistake was one of the first that came to mind.

This is a VERY common mistake that people make when they are called up to stage; rather than get straight into their content/speech they tap the mic and ask if its on and if the audience can hear them.

99% of the time someone has used the microphone before so we know it works, if there is an AV team at the event they will have made sure everything is working.

I have found you are much better off getting into your content, if for any reason the mic isn’t working the audience will let you know, despite you assuming the audience will point and laugh, the reality is they wont think much of it, if anything they will be on your side.

One of the most common mistakes people make when they start public speaking is not managing their energy levels.

When you walk on stage, or in front of the group you have only a few seconds to capture their attention, failure to engage the audiences focus will have them tune out and head straight for their - oh so interesting - phones.

Look enthusiastic, make eye contact and smile as you walk out.

Powerpoint slides are a great way to convey information.

However, too much detail/information on a slide can make it difficult for the audience to process the information.

If the audience have to squint, spend time reading or feel like they are trying to translate another language your slides are not doing the job intended.

As much as possible aim to only include key points and make your slides visual, this allows for a clear message and the audience will be able to follow along with you.

I am sure you have had to sit through a presenter in the past who has done this and I am willing to bet something felt off as you had to sit through it.

Reading directly from the slides is a big ‘No No’ we read stories to kids to send them to sleep, please don't do that to your audience.

As mentioned in the previous point, slides should contain key points and be visual.

More often than not you will feel a certain amount of nerves before getting up to speak or present, this nervous energy can often cause us to speak quickly, which not only makes us sound nervous, it can make us feel more nervous.

The remedy is to remember to breathe and be aware of your speech rate.

If you have prepared your presentation or speech on paper, avoid the mistake of standing at the lectern with your head down reading.

Not only will this make you sound uninteresting (see next point), by looking down you are not connecting with the audience.

Instead focus on connecting your words with the audience, make eye contact, smile and talk to the audience NOT down to a piece of paper.

Even though we are moving further and further into a world of AI it’s important that we stay human and don’t start to sound like a world of robots.

In order for us to connect our message we need to add emotion to what we are saying and a big part of this is achieved by the way we say our words.

The way I like to say this is we need to ‘BE’ the words that we are saying.