The moment you read text on a slide out loud to your audience, you are insulting their intelligence.

You are suggesting to your presentation audience that they can’t read and so you will do it for them.

I haven’t met anyone who likes or appreciates having slides read out to them. I have however, met countless professionals who agree it’s the ultimate presentation mistake yet continue to read slides themselves.

Solution – Craft a conversation rather than a recital. Remember that your audience have come to listen to you speak, not to read to them.

Have you ever sat through a presentation wondering what on earth the presenter is droning on about?

If you have, it’s likely that the content was simply not relevant to you. It can be extremely frustrating listening to irrelevant content. Imagine how you would respond if an audience member stopped you half way through your presentation and asked; ’ Why exactly are you telling us this, how will that information help me?’

Solution – As you craft your presentation, ensure that everything you plan to say, show or do is of relevance and value to your audience. If it’s not completely relevant, leave it out.

‘The mediocre presenter believes that they can run through their presentation a couple of times beforehand and if it makes sense to them then it will be fine for their audience.

The Mindful Presenter does everything they can to make their content a part of themselves and so they spend many hours rehearsing.

Not memorising, just rehearsing.

They know their content inside and out and leave no stone unturned in ensuring that everything they have crafted to say and the way they say it will be of significance to their audience.

Mindful presenting is about internalising our message.

Solution – Own your message – Internalise your message. Practice the verbal and non-verbal expression of your presentation.