Top 10 Ways to Butcher Your Presentation and How to Avoid Them! Part 3
By Arvee Robinson
8. Avoiding eye contact. The old adage "look above your audience's head" is a bunch of hogwash and should never be done. If you don't look at your audience, they'll soon lose interest and ignore you, too. To reach your audience, you must connect with them. The best way to do this is by looking them directly in the eyes as you speak. That doesn't mean you stare at them. It means you look at each person for about three to four seconds, then move on to the next person. Be careful not to bop your head from one side of the room to the other. Instead, slowly move from one person to the next in a sweeping motion.
9. Using the wrong hand gestures. Inappropriate hand gestures such as placing your hands in your pockets or flailing them can be as distracting as pacing the floor. Keep hands and arms comfortably at your side ready to jump up and make a meaningful gesture. The best gestures are those that demonstrate an action or a point of measure. All gestures should add to the understanding of the message, not be distractions.
10. Taking a mental exit. Forgetting what you're going to say can really mess up a presentation. It can cause great awkwardness and often is hard to cover up. Typically, speakers forget what they're going to say because they have either memorized their speech or relied too heavily on their notes. If this happens, simply return to the lectern, look down at your notes, pause and look up at your audience, and deliver the next line. The main message here is to not panic. Never let your audience see you sweat.
If you want to be an effective speaker, read through all these 10 points before delivering a speech.
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