by Arvee Robinson

Created on: September 04, 2009

Top 10 Ways to Butcher Your Presentation and How to Avoid Them!

1. Getting there late.

Walking frantically into a room full of people who have been waiting for you to arrive can be an embarrassing situation. Unless you are a magician, you might as well turn around and leave. It would take a miracle to get this audience to forget the inconvenience you have caused them. They probably have already passed judgment on you, deciding you're an inconsiderate speaker rather than a viable expert in your field. Make the extra effort to arrive at least hour before the event begins.

2. Apologizing before you start.

Starting off your presentation with Uh, I'm sorry that I . . . is the quickest, most assured way to lose your audience's attention and leave them cold. Remember, YOU are the expert and true experts have nothing to be sorry for. The audience doesn't care if you have a cold, woke up late, got caught in traffic, or tripped on a banana skin. All they care about is what information you're going to give them that will benefit them in the shortest amount of time. Remember Love StoryLove means never having to say you're sorry.

3. Not having a clear purpose.

Not having a clearly defined purpose for speaking is like driving to a restaurant in another city without a clue about how to get there. You'll end up meandering, not really going anywhere, until finally the people in the car with you get frustrated, lose their patience, and take a mental exit, determined never to ride with you again. Decide why you are speaking, and to whom, and stick to it.

4. Pacing while you speak.

Walking back and forth is a BIG distraction to your audience. Not only will their necks hurt after the game of Ping-Pong that you just put them through, but you'll have them anxiously wondering Is this ever going to stop!? Pacing keeps the audience from hearing what you're saying. Movement is good; it keeps a presentation lively and interesting. However, it's important to move with a purpose instead of meandering.

5. Swaying in the wind.

Like pacing, swaying in front of an audience is a HUGE no-no. Not only is it a distraction, it may even make your audience seasick. The best way to keep from swaying is to stand in the rooted position, which is when both feet are shoulder-length apart. Standing in this position will create a look of confidence and eliminate the temptation to sway.

6. Leaning on the lectern.

A surefire way to lose your audience's confidence is to lean on

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