Created by Anders Lindgren. Some of us love to give lectures. Others fear public speaking more than death. They are neither in contact with the audience nor themselves. They use PowerPoint as a crutch and limp nervously through their presentation. Not noticing that their audience are on the brink of being bored to death. Here is how to avoid the eight most common mistakes. To deliver presentation with power and punch, it is useful to be aware of the most common mistakes that even professional speakers make and how to avoid them.

1. PRESENT
withPUNCH!
A guide by AndersLindgren
Avoid the 8common
presentation mistakes

2. Learn to present with power and punch
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Some of us love to give lectures
Others fear public speaking more than death
They are neither in contact with the audience
nor themselves
They use PowerPoint as a crutch and
limp nervously through their presentation
Not noticing that their audience are
on the brink of being bored to death

3. The eight most common mistakes
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1. Too little connection with the audience
2. Too many irrelevant messages
3. Too many things on the screen
4. Too many bad slide designs
5. Too many boring headlines
6. Too many words
7. Too many fonts
8. No imagination
Once you're aware of bad habits, you
can take steps to break them

4. 15/05/2016
1. Too little connection with the audience
Here’s how to engage your listeners
4

5. Never turn your back on the audience
It is a cardinal sin. Let me repeat.
Do not turn your back on the audience
and read your slides.
There is no quicker route to an
audience that will ignore you.
If you need notes, keep them
in front of you.

6. Use emotions
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Emotions are contagious: If you engage
and connect with the audience, they will
connect and engage with you.

7. Use eye-contact
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It is your most powerful tool for influencing people.
To connect with someone, simply meet their eyes.
It is the same between you and audience.
If you need to point at the slides behind you,
do it in such a way that you maintain contact
with the audience.

8. Use the power of your voice
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It is the second most important tool you possess.
Vary both the volume, depth, tone and speed.
Pauses of silence can be very dramatic – use them.
Variations in your voice help to create interest.
Listening to a continuous flat tone works like
a sleeping pill.

9. Read the audience
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Their body language will show you if you have their interest or not.
If you see they are ready for a break, take it.
>50%of communication
is non-verbal [1]
1. Source: Mehrabian, Albert (1981). Silent Messages: Implicit Communication of Emotions and Attitudes (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. ISBN 0-534-00910-7.

10. Use stories and anecdotes
Master the ancient art of storytelling.
Learn to intertwine personal stories
and anecdotes into your presentation.
They are more captivating than any
slide you can ever make.

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2. Too many irrelevant messages
Here’s how to create interest and be meaningful
11

12. People’s bullshit meters are hypersensitive
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We live in the age of information overload. There is just too much information
for us to absorb. To cope, people’s bullshit meters have become hypersensitive.
It takes them only ½ second to decide if something is relevant or not.

13. How do you arouse and keep people’s interest?
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There is one simple answer: BE RELEVANT
Learn about their needs and wants.
Relate the messages to their needs.
Tell stories about real people.
Especially people they can relate to,
and do it in a personal, warm
and human way.

14. 15/05/2016 14
“Personally relevant information
which is communicated in
a credible, clear, warm
and human manner,
is most effective.”

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3. Too many things on the screen
Here’s how to be crystal clear
15

16. Keep your slides simple
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Don’t let the slides get in your way.
Focus on key points and facts.
Too much information on the screen
is difficult to process.
If you have a complex Excel table
put it in a handout or simplify the
information.

17. 15/05/2016 17
Simplicity is about
subtracting the obvious
and adding the meaningful
- John Maeda

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4. Too many bad slide designs
Here’s how to create stunning slides
18

19. No excuses for bad slides
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Audiences have little
respect for presenters
that lack design skills
or don’t use resources
to help them create
better looking slides.

20. How do you create aesthetically pleasing slides?
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Apply the Rule of Thirds.
It is a simplified version
of Fibonacci’s Golden
Ratio.
It is used everywhere by
artists and designers.
If you look closely , you will
also discover it everywhere
in nature.

21. There are two key points to the Rule of Thirds
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1. Make the slide appear
dynamic by placing your
main subject close to the
four powerpoints.
2. Avoid placing subjects
in the center rectangle –
it tend to make the slide
uninteresting.

22. Applying the “Rule of Thirds”
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Notice how the picture and the text
avoid the middle and centre rectangle.
Subjects and text are placed directly on
or in proximity of the powerpoints.
Most cameras come equipped with
a grid system based on the Rule of
Thirds to help you compose better
pictures.

23. Applying the “Rule of Thirds”
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Subjects placed exactly in the middle
often make a layout look less
dynamic and uninteresting.
Placing subjects by any of the four
powerpoints simply improves the
dynamics of the slide layout.

24. Applying the “Rule of Thirds”
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Subjects, figures and points are placed directly on powerpoints
to create a dynamic layout

25. Copy them into your
presentation to test if
your slides fulfills the
“Rule of Thirds”
Ready made Grid
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Try to place subjects
at one of these four
circles. Avoid the
center rectangle

26. Learn to work with images
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The crop-function in PowerPoint is especially useful. Use it to trim
and remove unwanted portions of pictures or isolate a specific part.

27. Stay away from animations, clipart or cartoons
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Only use simple slide transitions such as cut or fade.
Animations distract attention and should be avoided.
Avoid using generic clipart. It will make your presentation look outdated.
Do not use cartoons for jokes – they’re fun, but can easily be misunderstood.

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5. Too many boring headlines
Here’s how to write headlines that get’s the point across
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29. Shy away from the common boring headlines
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They don’t help your audience understand
your slides and get your key messages.

30. Say what you want to say in the headline
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People should be able to get all key messages by just reading the headlines.
They should provide people with the highlights of your messages.
If you follow this fundamental rule your ideas will come across so clearly,
that they almost jump off the slide.
WEAK STRONG

31. Take the “Filter Test” used by professionals
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Go through your presentation and
pretend you can’t read or see
anything except for your headlines
as shown here.
Where you able to get the main
ideas and messages?
If not, rewrite the headlines.
Try to make them fit on one line.

32. 6. Too many words
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Here’s how to wow them with fewer words

33. Here is a typical blah blah slide
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The goal of a presentation is communicate effectively with an audience
in whatever means is appropriate for the situation.
If your slides look like this, you are abusing Powerpoint, because your
are changing a speech to a reading exercise.
Audiences will read this as soon as it appears on the screen.
Because audiences can’t read and listen at the same time, they will
read the slide first and then come back to listening to you.
Because you’re still on bullet number one and your audience has read
the entire thing, the need for you as a presenter is gone.
You’ll never catch up what your audience already knows by reading
ahead.

34. Each slide should have one main point
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Make it even stronger by stating it in the headline.
Use images to reinforce your main point.
But only use images that are relevant.

35. If you must use bullets, follow the 6 x 6 rule
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1. That means six bullet points
2. And six words pr. bullet
3. No need to write all you want to say
4. Your slides are not your notes
5. Try to write about 36 words
6. This text is 36 words

36. The best slides have no bullets – only pictures
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37. 7. Too many fonts
Here’s how to get the fonts working for you
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38. Mixing too many fonts is distracting
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It makes it difficult for the audience to process.
Stick with only one font family. For instance Ariel.
In general stick to two variations of the font,
like Arial and Ariel Bold.
Use a third font for emphasis.
For instance Ariel (in blue).
Use a third
font for:

39. Using too small point size
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Use large font sizes. For instance:
Point size 24, 18 and 16.
Use bold and italics sparingly.
Never use shadows.
12 point size is not readable

40. 8. No imagination
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Here’s how to really captivate your audience

41. Break the rules
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But to break the rules with grace,
you must first master them.

42. Do something unexpected
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Never be a slave to your slides or notes.
Break up the talk by utilizing other visuals or tools.
Walk to a different part of the room.
Use a whiteboard and draw something
Do something that people will remember
Usually it is something completely unexpected

43. To sum it all up
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Use emotions, eye-contact and your voice.
Talk about their interest, less about yours.
Use the “Rule of Thirds” in your design.
Use the “Filter Test” for headlines.
Keep your slides simple.
Stick to one idea pr. slide.
Use the 6x6 rule for bullets.
Use large font sizes.
Be imaginative and memorable.

44. If you want to learn more

45. Some films for inspiration
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STOP! You’re killing me with PowerPoint
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JU48-FVqvQ
Bill Gates/mosquitoes @ TED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppDWD3VwxVg
SCREEN_Japonesas_de_motivacin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOEge-WqdBM
The Greatest Speech Ever Made - Charlie Chaplin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAd1WJ9gXo0
Five things every presenter needs to know about people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJUblvGfW6w

46. About the author
Hey, my name is Anders Lindgren.
People who know me well, will label
me as a digital pioneer, PR-veteran
and content marketing specialist. I
have two decades of experience as a
marketing and communication director
for large professional services firms,
primarily PwC and Sopra Steria.
Throughout my career I have been
passionate about sharing insights, and
helping people and brands
communicate in a way that makes
them shine and stand out from the
crowd.