Big Reasons Why Your Presentations Suck
REASON #19: The audience has already seen it!
• Diagnosis: You gave a presentation that somebody from your firm already gave to them.
• Why you did it: Your marketers are trying to “standardize” on a single pitch.
• What resulted: The audience got bored to death and wondered if you could think for yourself.
• How to fix it: Always customize the “corporate” presentation and make it your own.
REASON #18: It is all data, no story!
• Diagnosis: You presented scads of information without any context or meaning.
• Why you did it: You wrongly assumed a presentation was the same thing as a lecture.
• What resulted: The audience pulled out their Blackberries when you clicked your fifth slide.
• How to fix it: Make your presentation tell a story, ideally with the audience as the heroes.
REASON #17: A slide had a booby trap!
• Diagnosis: You included slide guaranteed to throw the discussion down a rat hole.
• Why you did it: You probably thought you could brush past it without stopping.
• What resulted: The audience stopped you and started arguing about the point.
• How to fix it: Think through the emotional impact of EVERY slide in your deck.
REASON #16: Your slides are too fancy!
• Diagnosis: You filled your slides with special effects and visual jim-cracks.
• Why you did it: You were afraid that the audience would find you boring.
• What resulted: Your audience watched the pretty pictures and missed what you were saying.
• How to fix it: Use the minimum visuals that you need to tell the story.
REASON #15: Grainy clip art!
• Diagnosis: You lifted graphics directly from a website a low resolution.
• Why you did it: You were trying to save a few bucks by not purchasing clip art.
• What resulted: Your audience figured you were an incredible cheapskate.
• How to fix it: Buy high quality photos for cryin’ out loud.
REASON #14: Your slide background is too busy!
• Diagnosis: You u
sed a background template that was busy and obtrusive.
• Why you did it: You wrongly thought it would make your slides look more “professional.”
• What resulted: Your audience got headaches trying to see what was actually on each slide.
• How to fix it: Use a simple, single color background. Always.
REASON #13: An intro that’s too d**n long!
• Diagnosis: You spend a third of your presentation time introducing you, your firm, and your topic.
• Why you did it: You were used to giving a longer presentation and didn’t shorten the intro.
• What resulted: You wasted time and made everyone wonder when you’d come to the point.
• How to fix it: Never spend more than 1 minute on your introduction. Never.
REASON #12: Your fonts are unreadable!
• Diagnosis: You used fonts that were too fancy or too small or both.
• Why you did it: The fonts looked great on your computer; the projector… not so much.
• What resulted: The audience squinted and peered, and then gave up. Blackberry time!
• How to fix it: Use large fonts in simple faces (like Ariel); avoid boldface, italics and UPPERCASE.
REASON #11: Meandering off track!
• Diagnosis: You wandered off on a tangent rather than following a train of thought.
• Why you did it: Admit it. You didn’t really take the time to think this through.. Did you?
• What resulted: The audience wondered if you were always this disjointed and disorganized.
• How to fix it: Review your presentation with a colleague, make changes, then rehearse.
REASON #10: Your graphics are too complex!
• Diagnosis: You inserted giant, complicated graphics with lots of little details.
• Why you did it: One picture is worth a thousand words, right? (Uh, wrong.)
• What resulted: Your audience stared glassy-eyed, then pulled out their Blackberries.
• How to fix it: Only include simple graphics; highlight the data point that’s important.
REASON #9: Skipping back and forth!
• Diagnosis: You flipped ahead to another slide, then flipped back.
• Why you did it: You were editing your presentation as you were giving it.
• What resulted: The audience figured you’re too dumb to use the PowerPoint Slide Sorter.
• How to fix it: If you must improvise, do so within the structure of the presentation.
REASON #8: You are all opinion, no fact!
• Diagnosis: You expressed all sorts of opinions without any supporting data.
• Why you did it: Laziness. It’s easy to claim “leadership”; it’s harder to actually be a leader.
• What resulted: Your credibility with the audience leaped right down the toilet.
• How to fix it: Only state opinions that you can back up with quantifiable data.
REASON #7: Lack of audience research!
• Diagnosis: You presented without showing that you understand the customer’s business.
• Why you did it: Let’s face it. You were just too lazy to do a thorough job.
• What resulted: The audience rightly concluded that you don’t give a flying whatever.
• How to fix it: Always research your audience and customize your story to match.
REASON #6: You speak fluent biz-blab!
• Diagnosis: Your presentation was filled with tacky business buzzwords.
• Why you did it: You wrongly thought the biz-blab made you sound “business-like.”
• What resulted: Your audience thought you were 1) pompous, 2) crazy, and/or 3) talking in tongues.
• How to fix it: Just stop it. Cold turkey. Please.
REASON #5: Weak attempts to be funny!
• Diagnosis: You tried to tell a jokes or a funny anecdotes.
• Why you did it: You thought you’d break up your presentation with a little humor.
• What resulted: The audience laughed politely and then pulled out their Blackberries.
• How to fix it: Leave the humor to the professional comedians.
REASON #4: You drifted off topic!
• Diagnosis: You included data and anecdotes that didn’t reinforce your message.
• Why you did it: You didn’t bother to figure out what would really interest your audience.
• What resulted: Your audience lost your train of thought and you lost credibility.
• How to fix it: Only include material that’s relevant to your overall message.
REASON #3: The wrong presentation!
• Diagnosis: You ended up without your latest and greatest Powerpoint file.
• Why you did it: You’re juggling things between your desktop and laptop.
• What resulted: The audience wondered why you were still talking to them.
• How to fix it: Always check, then double-check, that you’ve brought the right one.
REASON #2: It was too d**n long!
• Diagnosis: You presented way more than anybody wanted to know.
• Why you did it: You were “spraying and praying” that something that would pique their interest.
• What resulted: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
• How to fix it: Always make your presentation less than half as long as you think it should be.
REASON #1: Reading from your slides!
• Diagnosis: You stood there like an idiot and read aloud what everyone could read for themselves.
• Why you did it: You are an idiot. You didn’t know the material so you needed your slides as a memory-jog.
• What resulted: The audience wanted to kill you after the third slide.
• How to fix it: Nothing. You’re hopeless. Now go away. (Use slides to reinforce your message rather than to outline your data points.)
(Source: Sales Machine)
