1) Starting off by saying “Good Morning” and no matter how loud or enthusiastic we reply, you play the old “Let’s try that again!” card. Right off the bat you have told me that you’re like every other presenter. Oh, and apparently I’m an idiot because I don’t know how to say “good morning” properly! Thanks for that vote of confidence jackass!
2) All Fluff, No Substance! Cute phrases, cool slides and slick presentation skills should never be a substitute for content and yet I see so many presenters making this mistake. The problem with this approach is that their speech becomes a red bull adrenaline rush that ends with a debilitating crash when participants realize “Holy Schnikees . . . we just got a whole lotta nothing”
3) All Substance No Fluff. Nothing induces “outer body experiences” faster than spewing all kinds of facts and figures without a little window dressing. Conversely, I’ve seen skilled presenters take absolutely boring content and deliver it with stories, analogies, humor, strong visuals etc. Fluff and substance can actually live quite nicely together when they’re equal partners!
4) Being Totally Unprepared To The Point That . . . they look at the slide and actually say “Let’s see what this slide says” Here’s what that translates into “If I couldn’t bother to know my own material, then why should you bother to learn it?”Not even the slightest bit bueno folks! An all caps UNACCEPTABLE!
5) Failing To Cite Sources For Your Data: Telling me that “According to a recent study the average person sends and receives 110 emails per day” might as well be stated as “I read this on the bathroom wall at the airport” Its meaningless and doesn’t build credibility. Instead, how about “According to a recent study conducted by Radicatti Group, the average person sends and receives 110 emails per day”. Sounds way too specific for me to be yanking your chain. No?
Your turn . . . What are some presentation faux pas that tend to get on your nerves?
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Don’t stand there and read the slide to me. If that’s all you got, print it out or email it to me and I can read it my self.
Totally agree . . . huge pet peeve of mine!
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment!
A big pet peeve of mine is when somone asks a direct question and the presenter never actually answers it. They either a) don’t know the answer and are afraid to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out for you.” or b) they didn’t listen to the question and their rambling answer confirms it.
Boy have I seen this one too many times Barb and you’re right, if you don’t know the answer, fess up and get it for them.
Thanks Barb!
Paul, I’m all about giving credit to where credit is due…I cite the bathroom wall in all of my presentations 😉
I throw you one better Doug . . . During my next keynote, I’m going to quote you quoting the bathroom wall . . . you’re welcome 🙂
Thanks for weighing in on this Mr Rice!
Ok Paul-
Here are two-
-Signature Story Stealers- Presenters that lift anothers personal story and brand it as theirs.
-Cliche Quotes from dead people- Develop your own quotes that are relevant and real.
Stuart
I know of a famous “guru” who continually steals stories as their own unless the other people have been stealing from him 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I really appreciate it Stuart!
Cavett Robert often said, “Of course I stole your story, but I only steal from the best.” When quoting another speaker for the first time, he’d say, “As my good friend, Hank Trisler once said. . .” The second time he used a story, he’d say, “As someone once said. . .” The third time he used the story, he’d say, “As I’ve always said. . .”
The idea of original material is a farce. We all learn from each other and stealing material is an integral part of the speaking game. The key to originality is the ability to conceal your source.
The worst presentations are the “team presentations” at yearly sales meetings. These are the ones where 9 people from market create 9 separate ppts/speeches about the same topic: Who they are and what their plans are for next year. If you can’t tell me in 5-10 minutes what your doing, then I have my doubts that you know yourself.
People hate being talked at for an hour, especially when it’s repetitive filler. I prefer interactive presentations that are TTP (to the point).
These types of presentations should be outlawed but if we absolutely have to sit through each others slides then management should but limits on the time, the information (even to the point of everyone having the same slide but customized to their particular approach)
I also, agree with your point about making (and keeping) these presentations interactive. We need to make this a non negotiable.
Thanks Megan!
Until you mentioned it, I didn’t realize how much the “Good Morning… Let’s try that again!” bit annoys me, too. It’s a throwback to the summer camp counselor who needed to wake us up… when I was 10. If that’s the desired effect, perhaps slide #1 should be an image of a grande dark roast.
As a former day camp dude, I totally agree John!
Thanks!
Until you mentioned it, I didn’t realize how much the “Good Morning…
Let’s try that again!” bit annoys me, too. It’s a throwback to the
summer camp counselor who needed to wake us up… when I was 10. If
that’s the desired effect, perhaps slide #1 should be an image of a
grande dark roast.
I hate it when a speaker opens with an apology. Usually it is, someone else was scheduled to do this, but I am here. My favorite is – “I should have been more prepared, but…”. Makes me want to leave the room!
I agree Fred. Talk about a lousy opening, huh?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts . . . much appreciated!
My bug bear is when the presenter turns away from the audience to read the screen rather than reading it from the laptop in front of him/her.
Please don’t give me a duplicate copy of the slide presentation to follow during your presentation. I don’t need to read the script while I am watching the movie.
I have been against this practice for as long as I can remember.
Call me selfish but it takes your eyes off of me and I am the message . . . not the handout!
Thanks!
When the presenter starts out by saying that his presentation won’t be long, or that he is almost done, or apologizes for keeping us from lunch. Be proud of your presentation and don’t apologize for making it!
AMEN Dick . . . no need to apologize unless you truly do something that warrants it!
Thanks!
I hate it when the speaker’s presentation is just a reiteration of the slides. Don’t show all your cards by putting all your info on the screen! Give me bullet points on the screen and then be engaging enough for me to pay attention to you!
I agree Ron. To that end, I hardly use bullet points these days. I would much rather have a single visual and then talk through it.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and contribute to this post!
I prefer a few key words on the slide which helps participants remember key points about the presentation. However, never put so much on the slide that reading the slide is all it’s about. I want people to listen to what I have to say!
Well said Pam!
Thank you!
Paul,
Have you been to the same presentations that I’ve attended? It’s uncanny… Makes you want to bring out the inner snarky teenager making snide remarks from the back of the room and shooting spit balls at the presenter.
Since you ask, what causes major nerve-pressing with me is the “bad comedian” and the “inept host”. The former, trying to be funny to loosen up the crowd, and the latter, trying to get attendees to do stupid stuff like giving your neighbour a shoulder massage to get to “know each other”!
Holy Schnikees! (Is that German, or Finnish maybe?)Best,
Marie
I hear ya Marie. I despise the “stupid activity” thing. Call me a prude but I don’t want to give my neighbor a shoulder massage. Besides, it would be my luck that I have another guy on both sides of me. Talk about awkward 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Marie!
The “We’re getting to that…” Just answer my question and move on.
I know and its really demeaning too!
Thanks Jarrad!
I disagree unless the presenter has given permission to interrupt at any time with questions. You break the flow of the presentation otherwise and probably end up covering the same information twice.
Thanks for pointing out these presentation mistakes. Don’t you find it annoying when a speaker has 30 or more slides for a 30 minute presentation?! And why do some speakers think they have to fill up each slide with as many lines of type as will fit?
Great point Maggie . . . I prefer 1 powerful visual per slide and then I simply talk.
We are the message, not the PowerPoint!
Paul – I actually prefer to do my presentations without the visual aids. I want my audience to focus on me. Using Powerpoint means turning down the lights so the folks in the room can nap during your presentation.
No visual aids means I have to be “on” my game.
What you outlined is such a common thing and the cure (as you mentioned) is so simple.
Thanks Kate!
Fantastic point Marc . . . YOU are the message!
Thanks!
pet peeve: elevator speeches where the dude forgets to push the up button. He states his name and job category then mumbles… “financial planner or graphic artist or sign shop… we’re a full service business… we do everything… you know… and… call me for a free estimate…”
First of all, whenever I hear full service, I think of a gas station in New Jersey… “please wash the windshield and check the oil.” Second, in most of these 21st century entrepreneurial gigs, I haven’t got a clue what all the service offerings are. A sign shop might do design work, and even printing or direct mail. Just saying full service won’t wow me… Give me a reason to seek you out after the meeting…
Don’t even get me started on that “full service” thing.
I absolutely hate that line. I say that confidently as a recovering “fullservice a holic” 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Great comments – we all seem to notice the same goofy practices – LOL. Now…#1 in my chief offender list:
The minute a presenter says “Feel free to interrupt me with questions”, I know that we will not get through all the material. The remedy is painfully simple: Hand out blank paper and tell people to make notes about anything they disagree with, don’t understand, or have questions about, and at the end of the presentation you will go over everything. I’ve never had anyone balk at that in my presentations, and frequently they find that by simply waiting and listening, their question will have already been answered.
I don’t go to presentations to hear the audience weigh in – I go to hear the presenter, and I want to hear everything they prepared. Unless it’s 85 slides for a 30 minutes session – LOL
Thanks Mary Beth!
Well said!
“Which reminds me of a story. . .” Don’t telegraph it, just tell it. Good topic, Dillweed.
🙂 Thanks Hank!
Anyone who interrupts discussion by something such as, “Let’s get back on track.” Your #1 is one that I particularly hate. There is nothing that gets me to shut down faster than that! I’m also not a fan of anyone who takes themselves too seriously.
Thanks Rebecca!
Constantly referring to notes, or actually using notes at all. Take a memory class and deliver your speech without notes, much more effective. Using eye contact with individuals is very effective. When you see everyone looking down at their laps, you lost them, their blackberries trumped you.
I agree Cathy!
Thank you!
You are a man after my own heart— I love this article! My thoughts exactly.
Thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and share your thoughts!
Biggest pet peave – presenters that have no sense of humor and take offense when you ask a clarifying or challenging question. Let’s face it, everyone likes to have a little fun while they learn, and if you’re going to stand in front of an audience and just ramrod information without a little lighthearted humor to make it entertaining, I’m taking a nap.
Good one Tony . . . Thanks!
Could not agree more with this article. Chances are you’re presenting to presenters. We’re watching your info, but we’re also watching you. Well done!
Thank you Andrew!
I really appreciate it!
Hiding BEHIND a podium. If you’re not engaging your audience, you are 90% of the time going to have someone on their phone, laptop, sleeping etc. By actively engaging your viewers (i.e. walking around the room, addressing specific people with specific questions, having the group move around to make a point, etc) you will likely drive home all of the information you are presenting. Being nervous doesn’t help either. You should be presenting as an authority on the subject, don’t allow the fear of the audience NOT liking you prevent you from presenting and informing the remainder of the audience. JL
Slides with more than 15 words. If you don’t know the presentation well enough to speak on your feet, you bore me.
People that read their slides or hand outs verbatim. I can read just as well as they can…
English is my second language, so I always try my best to memorize everything. But sometimes it’s normal to be blank when you stand in front of a podium. However, memorize it + index cards+ witty tones can make a good presentation. I think it’s never a bad thing to be well- prepared
Thanks Layla!