Group Presentation Pitfalls
As an entrepreneur, Raphael Avraham Sternberg has been asked to give many presentations over the years of his career. Over time, He has learned some common mistakes that presenters make when giving a presentation.
Being Self-Centered
The most important thing that a presenter must remember when preparing to give a group presentation is that the audience is there to learn from them, not vice versa. This means that it’s essential not only to be prepared but also aware of how much time one has left in their presentation and which points need more emphasis.
If they find themselves speaking too long on one topic or getting off track, they ask themselves if this information is relevant enough for their audience members’ needs–and if not, cut it out. Remember: no one wants someone who talks too much about themselves or their own achievements.
Losing Focus
Avoid digressions. One may have a lot of interesting things to say, but if they don’t directly relate to the required topic, they are going down a rabbit hole that will take up time and energy.
Don’t get sidetracked by tangents. If someone asks about something related in passing during the presentation, one should not let it derail their train of thought–stick with what the audience came for.
Giving up the Floor and Letting Others Take the Lead
A presenter is not the only one who can speak up in a group presentation. In fact, if they don’t let others talk and share their ideas, their group will likely be unable to come up with any reasonable solutions.
Also, they should be bold and ask questions or offer alternatives when necessary. If someone says something that doesn’t make sense to them (or anyone else), say so. A good presenter doesn’t want all of their hard work to go down the drain because no one spoke up when they noticed something was off-kilter with an idea presented by another team member.
Talking Too Fast
A presenter might be nervous or simply want to get through their presentation as quickly as possible. Either way, it’s important to remember that the audience has yet to learn what the presenter is saying if they can’t understand him.
To avoid this problem, they should use a slower pace, especially when presenting complicated ideas or concepts. They should also pause occasionally and collect their thoughts before continuing on with the next point in your argument or storyline.
Not telling a story
Raphael Avraham Sternberg relates a presentation to a movie; a presenter wants to engage his audience and get them excited about what he has to say. One needs to tell them how this idea will change their lives or solve their problems (for example: “This new product will be like an umbrella for your marketing efforts; it protects from raindrops”).
Sometimes, it’s easy to fall into common pitfalls that can break one’s presentation. If they are aware of these pitfalls, they can avoid them and ensure their presentation is successful. If one of these obstacles occurs during their talk–and it probably will at some point, they should not panic. Just acknowledge the problem and move on as if nothing happened.
