Common mistakes in presentations – helped by AI

 

Does Chat GPT know what the common mistakes are in presentations? 
Common mistakes in presentations

I asked ChatGPT to tell me what were the common mistakes in presentations.

It came up with a list of 13

  • 5 of the 13 were to do with slides., and of these, three were the first three on the list
  • 3 of the 13 had to do with the audience
  • 3 had to do with the structure
  • 2 were to do with practice

None of them, by the way were wrong. They highlighted many of the things that we experience in a presentation. When clients contact me to set up their one-to-one sessions, any of the things on the Chat GPT list are mentioned as pitfalls

I was interested more in the order they came up in the list and what was missing.

Let’s talk about slides

Many people I speak with conflate the presentation with the slide deck.   You will hear this all the time in organisations when managers ask their team to send over the presentation for review (i.e. send over the slides).  Sometimes organisers will do this too. Lots of people (maybe you?) will start to prepare for a presentation by opening up a PowerPoint template and populating the slides with your content.  Often when I ask groups what they hate about presentations, it is the use of slides that they remark upon.  Death by PowerPoint is now a well-known phrase and has been experienced by most.

So it is of no surprise then, that CHAT GPT has 5 common mistakes all to do with slides and makes these a priority.

But here’s the thing.  Slides should be the last thing that we prepare not the first thing we think about.

Here’s the mantra I share with clients: work out the WHY you are speaking, then work out WHAT you need to say , then HOW you are going to say it and as part of that consider if you need slides and if so, which ones would be most impacting and helpful to the audience and how they receive your message. (the WHY)

So, what was missing from the list of common mistakes?

Although straying from the key message was mentioned as a ‘not to do’ in delivering, in my experience, I would say that not having a key message is even more common.  It isn’t always immediately obvious but when you know what the symptoms are, you will be able to pick out those speakers who have absolute clarity about their message and those that don’t.

Do you recognise some of the symptoms?

  • Too much detail
  • Content and information that isn’t relevant or needed
  • Confusing messages
  • Longwinded and round the houses explanations
  • Repetition – lots of it.

People often conflate content with message.   It is so much easier isn’t it to collect information and content, than it is to work out what the core message is that this specific audience needs to hear?

Information often trumps the message to the detriment of the presentation and impact on the audience. The core message is what turns your talk from an information download to an inspirational experience.

Chat GPT responses

Here are the responses to my question to ChatGPT if you are interested in what prompted my blog this week.

Creating and delivering an effective presentation involves careful preparation and practice. However, common mistakes can undermine your efforts. Here are some frequent pitfalls to avoid:

1. Overloading Slides with Text:
  • Using too much text on slides makes it hard for the audience to follow both the speaker and the written content. Aim for bullet points, keywords, and minimal text to keep slides clear and engaging.
2. Reading from Slides:
  • Reading directly from slides can make the presentation monotonous and disengage the audience. Use slides as cues for your talk rather than a script.
3. Poor Design and Visuals:
  • Cluttered slides, poor contrast, and unprofessional fonts can distract and confuse your audience. Maintain a consistent, clean design with high-quality visuals.
4. Ignoring the Audience:
  • Failing to make eye contact, interact, or address the audience’s needs can make your presentation feel impersonal. Engage with your audience through questions, eye contact, and responsive adjustments.
5. Lack of Practice:
  • Under-preparing can lead to stumbling over words, forgetting key points, and running over or under time. Practice thoroughly to ensure a smooth delivery.
6. Poor Time Management:
  • Overloading your presentation with too much content or not practicing timing can lead to rushing or not covering important points. Plan and practice to stay within the allocated time.
7. Monotone Delivery:
  • Speaking in a monotone voice can make even the most interesting content seem dull. Vary your pitch, pace, and volume to keep the audience engaged.
8. Inadequate Introduction and Conclusion:
  • Failing to properly introduce the topic or conclude with a strong summary can leave your audience confused about your main points. Start with a clear introduction and end with a concise conclusion.
9. Technical Issues:
  • Not testing equipment or software beforehand can lead to technical difficulties during your presentation. Always do a run-through with the technology you’ll be using.
10. Overuse of Animation and Effects:
  • Excessive animations and transitions can distract from your content. Use animations sparingly and only to highlight important points.
11. Ignoring Feedback:
  • Not seeking or considering feedback can lead to repeated mistakes. Use feedback from peers or previous presentations to improve.
12. Inconsistent Messaging:
  • Straying from your main message or including irrelevant information can confuse your audience. Keep your content focused and aligned with your key message.
13. Neglecting to Address Questions:
  • Failing to allocate time for questions or handling them poorly can leave the audience unsatisfied. Plan for a Q&A session and prepare for potential questions.

Avoiding these common mistakes can greatly enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of your presentations.

If you’d like help preparing for a talk, let’s chat – get in touch.