Present Better – Things You Should Not Say During A Presentation

Even though you might have invested a significant amount of time in your presentation and believe that you have covered all the crucial aspects, it is the minor details like gestures and expressions that can reveal your weaknesses, potentially leading to losing the contract. During presentations, it's best to avoid using casual fillers and making harmless admittances as they can diminish the quality of the presentation.

Common examples of ineffective phrases used by employees which can create dissatisfaction

Here are some common phrases people use that they should avoid:

"Let me start quickly, but this may take some time..."

If you start a presentation by saying something like "I have a lot of information to go through," you might lose some of your audience's interest before even starting. It gives the impression that the presentation will be long and dull. Your audience is unaware of the duration of your presentation, whereas you are aware of it. To maintain their engagement for as long as possible, it is advisable not to disclose the length of time.

"I am unsure if you are able to read this. It states..."

It is not advisable to include text in your presentation slide if it is illegible or too small to read. This is because it defeats the purpose of including it in the first place. If your presentation has any crowded components, avoid highlighting them with a flashlight as it may suggest that you included them without proper attention. Having a strong comprehension of the message content and being able to explain it confidently is crucial for preventing errors. This will enhance your credibility and ensure accuracy. 

"It is evident from this chart/slide that..."

To make something clear to your audience, you need to explain it so that they understand your perspective on that specific point. It is important for presenters to realize that they are the only ones who have a deep understanding of the contents of their presentation, whereas their audience is seeing it for the first time. Instead of simply stating that something is obvious, it is more effective to explain your point and help the audience understand it.

"I wasn't able to prepare thoroughly, so..."

You may believe that you are managing the audience's expectations with this statement, but instead, you are conveying the message that you don't value their time very much and are not taking the presentation seriously. If you are not well-prepared, avoid mentioning it and simply do your best in the given situation.

Focus on tiny details to ensure success

Paying attention to small details can reveal a lot about your work habits. To improve your results, it's important to take care of these details and be better prepared, preventing the need for these kinds of statements altogether.