There are an infinite number of ways to screw up a presentation, but I see some over and over again. Here are my 5 favorites.

1. Argue with your slides

Speakers frequently get into an argument with their slides. “You can’t read this, but…” “This slide doesn’t show…”  "This isn't the current data, but..."  It’s a great way to confuse and depress an audience, like watching a slow-motion train wreck.

2. Tell your audience everything you know

Speakers can get carried away with their enthusiasm for the subject. If a few words on esophageal stress as a contributing factor to banana fish decline is good, then many words must be better, right? Wrong! Cut to the content chase. We don’t know as much as you, and we don’t want to. Life’s too short.

3. Apologize for everything

Speakers are forever apologizing for the technology that doesn’t work, the speech they’re not giving, the home run they’re not going to hit. Don’t apologize. Just do your best! We want you to succeed. Or we did until you started apologizing for being alive.

4. Turn the lights down and speak in a passionless monotone

Speeches are often like sensory deprivation exercises. Are your slides dim and the screen far away? Turn the lights down! That will put us to sleep, even before you start speaking in that adorable monotone. You wouldn't want to show any emotion -- that might wake us up, right?

5. Tell ‘em what you’re going to say, say it, and tell ‘em what you said.

During World War II, officers were instructed to repeat everything 3 times to increase the likelihood that the soldiers would remember their orders. All the officers that survived the war came back and went to work in industry. They made their presentations there the same way they’d learned in the war. It wasn’t interesting, but people were more likely to remember; that is, until they fell asleep……

Comments

[Steven Schlagel]

Excellent post, Nick. (I pinged it today btw). Goes well with Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 rule. Are you familiar?

Steven

[Nick Morgan]

Hi, Steven -- thanks for the comment. Yes, I'm familiar with Guy's rule -- and a big fan of his book Reality Check, where that and many other of his tips, rules, suggestions, insights and so forth are discussed.

[speech writing]

Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! "This is obviously one great post. Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here. Keep it up!"