7 public speaking pitfalls—and how to sidestep them

If you speak in a public setting, you will make mistakes. That’s expected.

Still, you want to minimize errors. Thankfully, many presentation mistakes are avoidable—with a bit of practice and strategic preparation.

Here are seven common blunders and how to avoid them:

1. More is too much.

You’ve been invited to speak because you’re the expert, so it’s crucial to tell the audience everything you know, right? No, that is definitely not the case.

Your job is to be clear, concise and compelling. Tell your audience exactly what they need to know, and prioritize information they’ll find helpful and relevant. Skip irrelevant anecdotes and ancillary tidbits.

Remember: It’s not about how much you know; it’s about what they need to know.

2. Don’t make them read.

How’s the word count on your slide deck? The fewer words, the better.

Have a conversation instead. Your audience longs for interesting, stimulating human connections—not dense chunks of text. If you do show slides, make sure they are highly relevant, simple and visually driven.

3. Don’t try to be a comedian.

Humor can elevate your speech, but it can massively backfire.