Scholar Forum

Some people have a natural talent for public speaking. But of course, those without such innate abilities can improve their presentation skills as well.
Here's a list of frequently made presentation mistakes and pitfalls (most of them I made myself ?). Hopefully this will help you to avoid the most common presentation pitfalls:

BEFORE

1.     Insufficient PREPARATION (subject, content, rehearse)
   
2.     Not considering your AUDIENCE beforehand (who are they, what are they interested in, what's in it for them)
   
3.     Not checking the EQUIPMENT (projector, connection with your laptop, sound)
   
4.     Not checking the VENUE (lighting conditions, capacity of meeting room)
   
5.     It is indeed useful to come to the venue earlier and meet the audience members individually, also to get a possible fix on who could be "friendly" or "hostile" to the topic and you. 
   
6.     Also announce at the start if and when questions will be taken - during / after a section / after the presentation. 
   

DURING

1.     Presentation STRUCTURE not mentioned at START (like: agenda, main content, break?, when time for questions)
   
2.     CONTENT is not fitting to the audience (too difficult, too simple, language, jargon)
   
3.     Presentation is TOO LONG (be concise, only tell what your audience wants/needs to know)
   
4.     TOO MANY SLIDES (do you really need slides? stick to around max. 10 slides for half an hour or 20 for an hour)
   
5.     Poor VISUALS (too complex, too flashy, no consistent style)
   
6.     TOO MUCH TEXT (too much information, too much details)
   
7.     Being NERVOUS (prepare, practice and if needed do a breathing exercise)
   
8.     Being too STATIC, staying in 1 place all the time (moving around brings change & variety)
   
9.     No/POOR EYE CONTACT (only looking at the script or the screen)
   
10.     No INTERACTIVITY (ask questions now and then, split up in groups and do an exercise)
    
11.     GETTING STUCK in a discussion / argument with one questioner.
    
12.     BLUFFING: Handling a question you don't know the answer to.
    
13.     Being BORING (try using a metaphore, telling an anecdote, a joke or a story, use a recent news heading, give practical examples)
    
14.     No SUMMARY at the end (conclusions, main points)
    

AFTER

1.     Not asking if there are QUESTIONS (ambiguities)
   
2.     Not asking for FEEDBACK and suggestions (verbally, via email, or using some kind of form)
   
3.     No HANDOUT (1-page, memory aid)