For the details from first half of this “Top 10+” list about speaking and presenting, read through yesterday’s post.
#12. Lack of Dynamism
#11. Avoiding Eye Contact
#10. Bullet Points
#9. Not Preparing Well
#8. Too Much Jargon
#7. Making Things Overly Complicated
#6. Forgetting About Your Audience
Have you ever endured a presentation where the speaker is so absorbed in what they have to say that they seem to forget about the audience? Whether it’s the wrong presentation or it’s being presented in the wrong way, it’s important that you pay attention to your audience so you can adjust your content and delivery quickly.
The audience’s engagement level is a direct indicator of how your talk is going. If they are shifting in their chairs, something is wrong. If they look confused, they probably are. The cause could be as simple as the presentation covering something they do not understand, indicating that you need to clarify further. It could also be something more striking, such as what happened to a friend of mine when she began presenting using the entirely wrong slide deck: she put up a slide deck from an adult industry marketing topic at a finance event.
Check in with your audience, verbally or nonverbally, throughout the talk to make sure that the majority of people are still engaged. If the setting permits, direct interaction with the audience can help you gauge the direction in which to steer your talk. If not, you can at least take a hint from the confused faces that you might not be in the right room.
#5. Too Many Takeaways
This tip should require no explanation. But it constantly does.
Audiences generally start losing focus and memory of what you are saying after more than three major points. Give them more and watch their eyes glaze over, or watch as they begin to reach for their phones once you exceed their threshold to absorb meaningful information.
Make your points clearly and succinctly. If possible, make your points actionable as well, giving the audience information that they can apply once the talk is over. If they write something down, it mattered. If your topic is broad, narrow it down to focus on a particular aspect of it so that you don’t leave your audience overwhelmed.
#4. Overcrowding Text
Speaking of overwhelming, many people attempt to fit too much information onto each slide. As a result there is too much of everything and none of the content is memorable.
When preparing your deck, review each slide and ask yourself if it flows naturally from the previous slide. Be honest. Ask yourself if the information included adds to the overall presentation and, without hesitation, viciously delete anything that you don’t absolutely need!
Aim for the fewest words possible per bullet. Ideally, your slides contain just bullet points and not sentences. Otherwise, you will subconsciously be encouraged to read them aloud. And, of course, put no more than three bullets per slide. Keep your deck clean and tidy.
I’ve seen amazing 10 minute presentations that had 3 slides, plus an intro and outro. In almost all cases, less really is more.
#3. Underestimating How Much to Present
On the flipside, don’t focus on having so little content that, in the end, you forget what to say. Your deck needs to have enough clues to ensure you remember what needs to be discussed. If the information doesn’t belong in the deck itself, it should definitely be in your speaker notes.
Everyone has moments where they forget their thoughts. Having this happen in mid-presentation is disconcerting for you and the audience. Litter your deck with visual clues that will prompt you back on track. If visual clues are not enough, add pointers to your speaker notes in presenter view mode to keep you focused and revert back to them if you get lost. Some people have photographic memories and can rely just on visuals while others need detailed notes. Find out what works better for you and prepare your presentation to take your needs into account while also considering the audience’s.
#2. Speaking Incoherently
Public speaking is hard. It becomes less difficult over time with more practice and, when you are passionate about a topic, it is the least difficult of all. But it’s never “easy”.
Some people compensate for their nervousness by overloading their content and rushing through a 30 minute presentation in 5. If you rush through a presentation, your audience will absolutely miss the most important and relevant points. If you are speaking at 500mph, they probably are still contemplating what you said 8 minutes ago when they realize you’ve stopped speaking.
Try to speak at a slower pace than normal to counteract your natural response to the nerves. Enunciate the words and take brief pauses in between slides to glance over the audience to make sure you have not lost them along the way.
#1. Lack of Emotion
Is there anything more boring than listening to someone just present facts? People will remember information presented with passion and you should not be presenting anything you are not passionate about. You will quickly lose your audience if you just “state the facts,” even in a business setting.
Some people go over the top with hyperkinetic presentations delivered at warp speed which they believe conveys passion and excitement. (It doesn’t). Do not confuse passion with hype. No matter how cerebral the topic or audience, you need the audience to believe you care about what you are saying. As noted before, if that is not the case, you should not be speaking. You need to engage intellectually AND emotionally. If the subject matter is “dry,” it can still be engaging as long as you are passionate about why it matters.
If you are not passionate about the subject, why should anyone listening care to hear what you are saying? Why should they buy from you or invest in you? If you can explain why the subject matters to you, you’ll be sure to see other faces light up with excitement as they realize how it relates to them as well, no matter what the topic is.
Perception is the Reality
Presenting in front of others is difficult for everyone. It may get less difficult with time, but there will always be presentations that you are nervous about. Remember that your audience can probably sympathize with you. Once you’ve reached a comfort level with yourself as a presenter, it will be easier to acknowledge and move past the nerves. It will also be easier for you to engage with your audience in a natural way, cracking a joke or asking a poignant question at the right moment.
As you become more comfortable, the audience perception will acknowledge it and engage faster.
Always think of your presentation as a way for an audience to get to know a part of you. Scatter bits of your personality throughout your presentation to help them understand why the topic matters and why it matters to you in particular. Use each presentation as an opportunity to showcase something you love or are passionate about and your enthusiasm will rub off as you speak.