Mastering Presentations: Be the Undisputed Expert when You Deliver Presentations

Chapter 10

Seven Deadly Sins That Will Turn Off Audiences

“An error doesn’t become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.”

—Orlando A. Battista

In this book, we have covered (1) why you need to be a great presenter in order to be viewed as the expert, (2) how to design clear and concise persuasive presentations, (3) how to add impact to your presentations, (4) where to speak, and (5) how to generate additional revenue when you speak. In this chapter, we’ll cover a few traps that presenters often fall into that can really turn off the audience. The reason why I have waited until the end of the book to cover these “sins” is that if you do the things that I’ve outlined in the earlier chapters, you will easily avoid each of these sins.

We’ll start with the least offensive to audiences and work our way up to the absolute biggest mistake that presenters can make.

SIN #1: GOING OVER TIME WITHOUT PERMISSION

Going over the allotted time can cause a number of challenges for both you and any other speakers, and for every minute that you go over, you can subtract an equal amount of morale and enthusiasm for your topic. The way that most presenters prepare for their speeches actually causes this challenge. Most presenters have either memorized a speech or will prepare a bullet point for every idea that they intend to cover. As they deliver their presentations, if they elaborate on any specific point, they will have to make up the time difference somewhere else in the presentation. Often, ...