1. Using small scale movements and gestures.
Most rookie presenters are afraid to take up too much space.
This hesitance comes across like an apology to the audience.
2. Speaking
with low energy.
Actually, this problem is not restricted solely to rookie
presenters. 80 – 90% of the presenters that I observe do not expend enough
energy. Hence, they come across as uninvolved, uninteresting, and
unenthusiastic. Crank up the energy level! You will command more attention and
project more confidence and charisma. I cannot stress this strongly enough.
3. Not preparing enough
Granted, many rookie presenters don’t know how to prepare
effectively other than preparing their media. Experienced speakers do plenty of
research so that they feel confident in their material and their ability to
respond to any question the audience might throw at them. They daydream about
their topic even during ‘down time’ and often find the most creative ideas when
doing other activities. I often come up with great ideas while driving,
shopping, or running. It’s important to go through multiple drafts or
iterations of your material, revising and editing, to arrive at the most
finished form of your talk.
4. Not practicing enough
Not practicing your talks and presentations on your feet is
one of the single biggest mistakes you can make. Experienced speakers will
often do a dry run of their material with a trusted audience of friends,
family, or colleagues. They will simulate the environment of their presentation
using a projector and slide remote. They’ll choreograph their movements and
gestures which will dramatically increase your ability to remember your
material. They recognize areas of challenge (weak segues, awkward media
transitions, etc.) and come up with tricks and tactics to help them flow
seamlessly through their material.
5. Data centric presentations.
If your talk is focused on data rather than the vivid human
story the data tells, you are in trouble.
