How

to Avoid the Top 10

Mistakes Students Make
When They Individual and
Team Presenta>ons
(in no par>cular order)
Susan Solomon, PhD

W HY ?

10. T HEY D ON T H AVE

A P LAN

Plan

Dene topic, narrow, mistake of too much

Gather informa>on

Quality content

Organize

beginning, middle, end

Tell them what youre going to tell them,

tell them, tell them what you told them

Plan >me

Preview your main point(s).

P LAN ( CONTINUED )

Beginning

state purpose

introduc>on(s)

overview

orient the listener

9. T HEY U SE P OOR L OGIC

AND H AVE N O T RANSITIONS IN
THE M IDDLE

Logic

Transi>ons (guideposts)

First, second, third, Next lets

consider, So now that you
understand the purpose of the
statement of cash ows, we can
now consider

8. T HEY H AVE

P OOR

E NDING

Tell them what you told them

To summarize - theyll stop listening

Thats all and shrug

E NDING

How do you create nal impact?

Great endings are giY wrapped!

Refer back to something from the

beginning,
So now that you have a be\er grasp of
looked at this statement

A challenge

The future

A strong statement

7. T HEY D ON T SPEAK
E XTEMPORANEOUSLY

Memorize

Read slides, read notes, read speech

No spontaneity

6. T HEY D ON T H AVE A
C ONVERSATION WITH THE A UDIENCE

Think posi>vely about audience

Have a conversa>on with them.

Directness

Eye contact - not just professor or

one person

Movements become natural

Dont hide behind lectern

Separates audience

Formal

5. T HEY H AVE LITTLE OR

N O E NTHUSIASM

Involve yourself - Totally into it

If not enthusias>c, why should
audience be?

Involve the audience - ask ques>ons,

get agreement, speak to someone

Find ways to be enthusias>c

An example

An applica>on

A story

4. T HEY H IDE W HO T HEY

A RE

Personality

If you are yourself, you cant be

nervous

3. T HEY U SE S LIDES
P OORLY

Do not read slides

Enhance slide content

Avoid looking at slides.

Point with open palm.

Do not turn your back

2. T HEY D ON T D EAL W ITH

F EAR AND D ON T H AVE A
F REEZE P LAN

You are not alone

The audience usually cannot tell.

The audience does not want you to fail.

Have a freeze plan

Take a sip of water

Take a breath

Ask for a second

Figure out what works for you

1. D ON T PRACTICE

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

Be over-prepared.

Ten >mes or more

Alone

To a mirror

With friends

With teammates

Audio record

Video

Thats all

So whats next?

What will you do?

How will this skill eect your future?