Five public speaking mistakes and how to avoid them
Rushing, reading slides, skipping the story: the most common speaking mistakes and simple fixes for each.
Most nervous speakers make the same handful of mistakes. The good news: each one has a simple fix.
Rushing. Nerves speed us up. Plan a pause after every key point and breathe before you start.
Reading your slides. Slides are for the audience, not for you. Use a few words or one picture per slide and tell the rest.
Skipping the story. People forget facts but remember stories. Open with a moment from your own life.
Too much content. Pick three ideas and make them stick rather than ten that nobody remembers.
No clear ask. End by telling the audience exactly what to do next.