Bad presentation habits and how to avoid them

1. Lack of prep - do the prep when it matters

People rush presentations together. They copy old slides that don't work for this audience. They don't practice their talks.

⭐ Set aside time - more time if it's important.

⭐Think about what you're saying and what is valuable/interesting for the audience.

⭐The more 'real' your practice, the less nervous you'll feel.

2. Focusing internally or on the slides - Talk to the audience

The significant difference between presenters who look confident and those who come across as nervous is that they actually talk TO the audience.

Many people just try to get through it, either looking at notes, the slides, or with a glazed, unfocused face. Don't do this.

⭐ Look at the audience; you don't have to make eye contact, but appear as if you are.

⭐ Be excited to share your work with them - that's why you're there.

⭐ Engage with them through questions, discussion, polls, etc. Involve them if you can.

3. Audiences just want you to want to be there...

Poor slides - c'mon, people, you can do better

You know what I'm talking about... just stop it.

Assuming people can read graphs - they can't

I see this ALL the time. Graphs and figures are complex; they contain loads of information.

It takes time for people to process that information.

It takes them more time than it takes you... Because you've been looking at that graph for the last six weeks.

Don't rush through graphs or figures. Don't assume the audience has seen them before or can analyse them quickly (how long does it take you to understand a graph in a paper?!)

⭐ Do slow down; complex info needs to be taken slowly.

⭐ Do spend time setting the context of the data before showing the graph.

⭐ Do connect the data to the MEANING - this is crucial; data on its own tells me nothing of value.

Until this stuff is core curriculum, we're gonna keep seeing it.

So if you think your department or group could use some training to get rid of bad habits... Get in touch!

I'd be more than delighted to help :)