How To Fix The 12 Most Common Presentation Mistakes

Here is a must-read book for anyone who makes presentations at work, a club, a non-profit, or to any group of individuals the presenter wants to persuade to take action.

The book is, Presentation Ready, by Terri L. Sjodin, one of America’s leading experts on persuasive presentations. Her specialty is blending communications theory, field research, and practical sales experience to help professionals and non-professionals become more polished and persuasive presenters.

When you read the book, you’ll discover the 12 common sales presentations mistakes and you’ll learn why the mistakes happen, why the mistakes are damaging, and how to avoid the mistakes. Presentation Ready is divided into three sections:

Building your case – the foundation of your persuasive arguments and content.
Leveraging creativity – How your persuasive message resonates with listeners (storytelling, visual aids, structure, curiosity)
Honing your delivery – Your unique style, movement, personality, and ability to execute effectively.

“This book is formulated for the busy professional,” explains Sjodin. “The book’s material will help you quickly evaluate challenges in your presentations and make simple corrections that can expand your influence and generate better outcomes.”

One of my favorite parts of the book is where Sjodin teaches how best to use visual aids in your presentations. She explains that:

Visual aids energize your listeners and help them understand your points faster.
Visual aids are for the benefit of listeners, not a crutch to help presenters get through their own content.
A visual aid is intended to show something visually that you can’t verbally express in the same way.
Don’t rely on your visual aids to do all the work. Place them strategically and tie them to a specific purpose within your presentation.

Sjodin also cautions presenters from using word redundancy and filler words and using too much industry jargon or acronyms. Finally, she adds that, “Whether your next presentation is three minutes of 30 minutes, that’s not a lot of time, and brevity is your friend. Ultimately, it’s not about the specific time allowed but rather making the most of the time you have."

Be sure to make good use of the helpful forms toward the end of the book, especially the Presentation Outline Worksheet.

Terri L. Sjodin

Sjodin shares these insights with us:

Question: Of the 12 most common mistakes made when making a presentation, which one challenges the most people and why?

Sjodin: Great Question! The answers will be different depending on if you’re coming from the perspective of the Presenter or the Listener. The top confessions from Presenters are: “Winging It” and “Being Overly Informative Versus Persuasive.” However, Listener observations identify “Being Boring” as being the highest ranked challenge.

There are lots of reasons why, but the biggest takeaway here is that we don’t always see ourselves with the same perspective that we see others.

Question: If an eager learner wants to improve their presentation skills but doesn't have time to tackle correcting all 12 mistakes, which one or two should they first concentrate on?

Sjodin: That’s a tricky question because the answer will be different for each person. The goal would be for the reader to do a self-assessment and identify which of the mistakes are most problematic for them. As they explore each mistake in the book, they might think, “that’s me,” or “that’s not me.” That’s okay. Start by addressing the mistakes that are most pertinent for that situation and focus on improving in those areas.

Questions: So many presenters default to PowerPoint as their presentation tool. What are the pros and cons of using PowerPoint?

Sjodin: Visual aids can significantly enhance a presentation when used effectively. They are not designed to be a crutch to help get a person through their content. Remember, you are the star and the visual aids are the bit players. They are there to enrich the message and say something visually that you cannot communicate in the same way verbally. Tragically, most presentations are dominated by text and bullet points and do not visually create a wow factor.

Question: You've likely heard that presenting is reported to be more feared than dying for many people. What couple tips do you give to a person who is fearful of presenting?

Sjodin: Nervous feelings are natural. A speaker can feel vulnerable and feel the pressure of delivering the message and producing results. Remember the old saying, “No pressure, no diamonds.” Preparation and practice are the keys to managing nervous energy. Take a deep breath, visualize yourself delivering a successful presentation, and use your voice for good. Don’t worry, just do your best and keep moving forward.

___

Sjodin is the founder of Sjodin Communications and is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning speaker, and consultant for Fortune 500 Companies. She is a frequent guest on radio and television talk shows and industry podcasts throughout the country.

Thank you to the book's publisher for sending me a copy of the book.

Comments

Effective Listening: Do's And Don'ts

Here are some great tips from Michelle Tillis Lederman's book, The 11 Laws of Likability . They are all about: what to do and what not to do to be a leader who's an effective listener : Do : Maintain eye contact Limit your talking Focus on the speaker Ask questions Manage your emotions Listen with your eyes and ears Listen for ideas and opportunities Remain open to the conversation Confirm understanding, paraphrase Give nonverbal messages that you are listening (nod, smile) Ignore distractions Don't : Interrupt Show signs of impatience Judge or argue mentally Multitask during a conversation Project your ideas Think about what to say next Have expectations or preconceived ideas Become defensive or assume you are being attacked Use condescending, aggressive, or closed body language Listen with biases or closed to new ideas Jump to conclusions or finish someone's sentences

How To Be A Learn-It-All Leader

“Great leaders are great students, and the world is their classroom,” says Damon Lembi , author of the new book The Learn-It-all Leader . “Learn-It-All leaders are constantly creating and re-creating themselves, their companies, and their leadership. They are information extractors. They pull what they learn about everything—be it product innovation or how to inspire a team—from their lived experience,” adds Lembi. These types of leaders also model and directly encourage a culture of learning inside their organizations. This attracts higher-quality workers, improves their performance over time and holds onto them longer. The book is divided into two parts: Part 1: Being – explores how Learn-It-All leaders think . Part 2: Doing – examines what Learn-It-All leaders do differently . Damon Lembi Some of my favorite takeaways (including some quotes) from the book include: Quote : “Live as if you were to die tomor...

How To Build Great Work Relationships

Here is a new book I wish was published back when I was early in my career. It’s called, Bosses, Coworkers, and Building Great Work Relationships . It’s one of four books in the new Harvard Business Review ( HBR ) Work Smart Series . The book includes adapted content from 20 articles that previously appeared on HBR.org. “We probably spend more hours with our coworkers than with anyone else. So even if they’re not all perfect, it’s worth it to build connections that will provide you with support, help you network and learn, and keep your career moving forward,” shares HBR. “This book helps readers make so-so work relationships better, keep the bad ones from bringing them down, and help them build lasting connections with incredible people.” HBR adds that the book includes chapter takeaways and dozens of resources so that you can go beyond the book to engage in the media (video, audio, etc.) you learn from best. As you read Bosses,...

How To Use Failure To Succeed

“On the path to success, we trip and lose our footing from time to time. But stumbling and even falling is the best way to learn from mistakes and is critical to achieving goals,” says Bill Wooditch , author of the book, Fail More: Embrace, Learn, And, Adapt to Failure As A Way To Success . “We all fail. It’s a part of business, and it’s a part of life,” explains Wooditch. “It’s how you deal with setbacks is what makes the difference.” The book will teach you how to: Conquer the negative emotions that naturally arise after making mistakes. Clearly articulate lessons learned. Put these lessons to use immediately. Plus, you’ll learn how to: Navigate all forms of rejection and failure in pragmatic ways. Rationally examine your personal fears and gain mastery over them. Shed the discomfort of uncertainty, which is the only way to open your mind to all possibilities. Wooditch answers these questions for us about failing, succeeding and his book: Question : We ar...

Seven Tough Questions To Ask Your Team

High-functioning teams can disagree and still produce excellent products and results. Team members can also disagree and still care about each other. And, they can challenge each other to think differently. Best-selling leadership book authors Scott J. Allen and Mitchell Kusy recommend that leaders ask seven tough questions of their teams to help maximize their results. Here are those questions to ask each team member: What are some obstacles affecting this team? What are opportunities we could take advantage of that we have been largely ignoring? Where can you take greater ownership on this team? Where have you let this team down ? Compared to other teams with which you are familiar, how are we doing ? When was the last time you complimented the team or one of its members? How open are you to giving direct feedback to team members?

How Leaders Build Trust

You can't lead if your employees, team or followers don't trust you. Building trust takes energy, effort and constant attention to how you act. To help build trust, follow these 16 tips , recommended by author Susan H. Shearouse : Be honest Keep commitments and keep your word Avoid surprises Be consistent with your mood Be your best Demonstrate respect Listen Communicate Speak with a positive intent Admit mistakes Be willing to hear feedback Maintain confidences Get to know others Practice empathy Seek input from others Say "thank you"

How To Be A Collaborative Leader

Edward M. Marshall 's book, Transforming The Way We Work -- The Power Of The Collaborative Workplace , remains relevant today, two decades after Marshall wrote it. Particularly useful is the book's section that teaches readers how to be a collaborative leader . Marshall says that there are seven different, important roles and responsibilities of collaborative leaders when leading teams , and those leaders should select the appropriate style to meet the team's needs. The seven roles are : The leader as sponsor -- You provide strategic direction, boundaries and coaching for the team. You also monitor progress and ensure integrity in the team's operating processes. The leader as facilitator -- You ensure that meetings, team dynamics, and interpersonal relationships function effectively. You also ensure internal coordination of activities among team members. The leader as coach -- You provide support and guidance and you serve as a sounding board. The lea...

10 Quotes From The 5 Levels Of Leadership -- John C. Maxwell

Soon I'll post my full review of John C. Maxwell's latest book, The 5 Levels of Leadership . In the meantime, here are some of my favorites quotes from the book that I believe should become a must-read book by any workplace/organizational leader: Good leadership isn't about advancing yourself. It's about advancing your team. Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. Leadership is action, not position. When people feel liked, cared for, included, valued, and trusted, they begin to work together with their leader and each other. If you have integrity with people, you develop trust. The more trust you develop, the stronger the relationship becomes. In times of difficulty, relationships are a shelter. In times of opportunity, they are a launching pad. Good leaders must embrace both care and candor. People buy into the leader, then the vision. Bringing out the best in a person is often a catal...

5 Tips For Generating Ideas From Employees

Your employees have lots of ideas. So, be sure you provide the forums and mechanisms for your employees to share their ideas with you. Hold at least a few brainstorming sessions each year, as well. And, when you are brainstorming with your employees, try these five tips: Encourage ALL ideas. Don't evaluate or criticize ideas when they are first suggested. Ask for wild ideas. Often, the craziest ideas end up being the most useful. Shoot for quantity not quality during brainstorming. Encourage everyone to offer new combinations and improvements of old ideas.

Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

Search This Blog