The Most Common Speaker Mistakes
Diane DiResta
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Diane DiResta
Professional Speaker, Virtual Presentation Coach Leadership & Executive Presence Coach Virtual Seminars Media Trainer Emcee Author
Whenever you’re presenting, you’re going to make mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes you make on the public speaking platform result from your belief in one or more of the myths described in Knockout Presentations. At other times, your mistakes might stem from your inexperience. Whatever the case, here are some of the most common mistakes speakers make. We’ll examine the solutions in later sections of my book.
- Lack of preparation. You must take the time to know your topic and rehearse. If you’re unprepared, you’ll look unprofessional. Practice your speech out loud and time yourself. Be prepared for questions afterward. Presentation success is 90% preparation and 10% delivery.
- Lateness. Starting and ending your presentation late shows a lack of respect for the audience. People have busy schedules. Allow extra time to arrrive at your destination and know how to cut and summarize the presentation if you sense you’re running out of time. Arrive one hour early to reduce stress and to get a feel for the venue or online platform.
- Not knowing the audience. One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a presenter is not meeting the needs of your audience. It’s a great way to turn an otherwise receptive group into a hostile one. Don’t talk over people’s heads, but don’t be too simplistic either. If you’re giving the same speech to different groups, tailor it for each audience.
- Projecting the wrong image. This is an instant credibility killer, and it’s related to mistake No. 3. A flashy outfit will not work if you’re speaking to bankers. A slick, “big city” style doesn’t do it for farmers in Kansas. Study the audience ahead of time and dress and present appropriately. This includes virtual backgrounds. Choose a background that supports your brand and dress for the camera. Don't let your guard down online. It's still a presentation even if you're not in person.
- Using visual aids ineffectively. If you fumble with visual aids, you’ll eventually lose your credibility. Visuals should support and enhance the presentation, not take it over. Similarly, technology that malfunctions can be disastrous to the speech. Check out all of your equipment before you speak and have a backup plan in case the equipment fails. For virtual presentations, have a producer who can handle the backend. If you're clumsy with technology, let the producer advance your slides.
For the rest of the speaker mistakes read chapter one of Knockout Presentations.
Passionately Coaching Entrepreneur & Corporate leaders to scale their mindsets, teams and their businesses to deliver outstanding results while consciously & deliberately making lives and our planet better!
4 年Great tips Diane, communicating to connect with your audience, knowing what's in it for them/me (WIIFM)and tailoring your message to meet your audience where they are is a leadership tip I focus upon with my coaching clients across both corporate and entrepreneurial spaces!
Guiding small business owners to build and scale strong dynamic businesses. My small and medium-sized business owner clients become outstanding leaders of outstanding small businesses.
4 年Knowing the audience is critically important. If you don't know the group you are speaking with, ask the organizer in advance so you can tailor your talk appropriately. The organizer will be happy to tell you about the audience because a great speaker that appeals to the audience makes the organizer look good.
I'm a sales strategist and content creator who helps businesses drive results with a one-two punch of targeted, customized messaging and proven sales strategies.
4 年Great points; amazing how often 1 or 2 are missed.