6 mistakes you must never do when making a presentation

Giving a presentation at work is a scary task. Many fears public speaking than death. However, like other things in life, making presentations gets easier with practice and experience. Typically, it is executives and managers who give presentations to CEOs, the board of directors, potential clients, and of course, the team members. Content is the foundation of any presentation. However, great slides and messages can get ruined owing to poor presentations. Precisely why you need an executive presentation coach to assist you with the entire process.

Similarly, those with poor content succeed, thanks to the way they deliver. The audience walks out, convinced and impressed. Media training teaches you the same. Media interviews expect you to speak confidently, even if you are not sure about specific facts. Several elements form an excellent presentation but delivering effectively helps you avoid missteps. They are –

1. Powerful statements: You are entitled to an opinion. However, there are powerful ways to present your view. Back it with your assessment, observation, and experience. If you have the relevant data, do not use fillers while speaking powerful statements. Use phrases such as, ‘the data indicates’ or ‘the facts illustrate.’ Sometimes you need to apply your analysis from different information you have collected. In such scenarios, you can use the phrase ‘I think.’
2. Clarity of thoughts: When you give a presentation, the listeners are bound to ask you some questions, for which you may not have an appropriate answer. Never give away a fact or detail that you are unsure of. It is wise to use the phrase ‘the team can explore the question and let you know following the meeting.’ Your executive presentation coach assists you in brainstorming difficult questions and how to respond to them.
3. Never share inaccurate details: One of the learnings of childhood is ‘always share the truth’ or ‘be honest.’ However, in the heat of a big presentation, you may be tempted to answer a question which will be a guess. Do not do so. If you are unsure of the validity of the point, sharing it could have negative repercussions. It usually happens when senior executives are presenting.
4. Avoid verbal crutches: Nearly everyone falls prey to verbal crutches such as phrases. If you are aware of speakers who use verbal crutches, you are likely to get distracted in the future instead of focusing on their message. Preparations, recording, and feedback are crucial to banish these from your vocabulary forever. Preparing well makes you look and sound confident. It is usually stress and anxiety that triggers verbal crutches.
5. Adjust in capturing feedback: It is good to ask questions but do not make it sound poorly phrased. Make a few adjustments to get the desired input from the audience. Let them know how you can handle questions. The audience is also likely to follow your lead. So, intimate them when you can take questions. Then prepare the questions when you can get maximum audience engagement.
6. Avoid taking unnecessary credit: Your presentation should not sound like a long list of thank you as seen in award shows. However, you must acknowledge the wider team and those who assisted you in prepping the presentation.

Apart from the credit factor, many other elements are valid during media training too. Make sure to follow these the next time in your organization or before an interview.

I am Senior Content Writer. I like to write Article on Public Speaking, Speech Training, Media Training for Executives etc.