By Rayne Provost
I’ve been asked to make a presentation at my industry niche association meeting. What are some things to make it a winner?
In his book, 10 Simple Secrets of the World’s Greatest Business Communicators,Carmine Gallo, a communication coach, author and former anchor for CNN and CBS, lists his 10 Worst Presentation Habits.
• Read from notes. Review your material, absorb it and deliver it without notes.
• Avoid eye contact. Make eye contact with your listeners 90% of the time. Glance at your notes or slides from time to time, but just as a reminder. Speak to your listeners, not your slides.
• Dress Down. Always dress appropriately for the culture, but a little better than everyone else.
• Fidget, jiggle and sway. Simple solution? Don’t! Videotape presentations or rehearsals to catch your flaws.
• Fail to rehearse. Practice every component of your presentation – the material, flow of slides and when and where you may walk or interact with the audience.
• Stand at attention. Move, walk, use hand gestures – be animated in voice and body.
• Recite bullet points. Don’t write too many words on a slide. Avoid more than 4 words across or 6 lines down. Tell stories, anecdotes and examples.
• Speak too long. Do you spend 5 minutes saying something you could say in 30 seconds?
• Fail to excite. Tell them why they should be excited about your content – why they should care.
• End with an inspiration deficit. Summarize what you said in your presentation, but leave them with one key thought that makes an impact or makes their jaws drop.
TIP:Feel like you’d like to improve in this area? Consider the IMC Academy Webinar by popular business speaker Tim Wackel.
Source: http://www.imcusa.org/blogpost/1009836/185043/10-Worst-Presentation-Habits
