10 Deadly Public Speaking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Liam Sandford
Liam Sandford is a public speaking coach, marketing leader, and 2x best-selling author, including the book Effortless Public Speaking. He helps introverted professionals and leaders take control of public speaking anxiety and use speaking to market themselves, build influence, and communicate with impact.
Are you unknowingly sabotaging your presentations before they even begin? Many presenters fall into traps created by myths, outdated advice, or methods designed for experienced speakers. These missteps can increase stress, reduce audience engagement, and limit the impact of your message.
Perhaps a colleague, friend, or family member shared well intentioned but unhelpful advice. Or maybe you tried a technique meant for a seasoned stage speaker, leaving you feeling overwhelmed. These mistakes are common, but the good news is that they are entirely fixable.
By recognising these pitfalls and adjusting your approach, you can dramatically improve your chances of delivering engaging, memorable presentations. Let’s explore three common mistakes and what you should be doing instead.
Mistake 1 – Using the 10/10/10 Presentation Structure
The 10/10/10 structure is common in corporate settings:
10 minutes giving an agenda
10 minutes delivering main points
10 minutes concluding
This method is predictable and often boring. Opening with an agenda and repeating information at the end risks losing audience attention. Your listeners are most attentive when you deliver your main points, so losing them during the opening wastes valuable engagement.
Even in short presentations, this structure can feel repetitive and fail to inspire. It may seem safe, but it does not generate excitement or focus.
What to Do Instead
Use the open, body, close structure, also called the nano speech:
Open: Capture attention immediately with a statement, question, or story
Body: Deliver your main points clearly and concisely
Close: End with a strong call to action that your audience will remember
This approach maximises attention, emphasises key points, and ensures your presentation is calm, purposeful and engaging from start to finish.
Mistake 2 – Making PowerPoint the Presentation Instead of You
A common error is designing slides first. This often leads to slides overloaded with text, which tempts you to read from the screen. When this happens, your audience focuses on the slides rather than on you, reducing engagement and the impact of your message.
PowerPoint should support your presentation, not replace it. Over reliance on slides shifts attention away from your message and diminishes your role as the speaker.
What to Do Instead
Create minimalist slides that enhance understanding:
Include only one key point per slide
Only add visuals or text that help the audience grasp your message
For every slide, plan:
How you will open the point
The main message you want to deliver
A story or example linked to that message
How you will close or transition to the next point
Remember, you are the main event. Slides are the support act, helping the audience understand your message without overwhelming or distracting them.
Mistake 3 – Not Planning Clear Transitions Between Points
Many presentations fail because the speaker rambles. This can happen for three reasons:
They are unclear about what they want to say
They do not know how to transition between points
They are speaking without structure or intention
Without clear transitions, your audience can become confused, lose focus, and fail to understand your message. Effective transitions are the thread that connects your presentation and maintains attention.
What to Do Instead
Plan smooth, simple connections between points:
Use stories, analogies, or references to link ideas
Decide in advance how you will move from one point to the next
Close the presentation with a clear, memorable call to action
Clear transitions make your presentation cohesive, professional, and easy to follow. Your audience will leave understanding your message rather than trying to piece it together themselves.
Mistake 4 – Scripting Your Presentation
Relying on a fully scripted talk can make your delivery sound robotic. If you forget a word, it can derail the presentation and increase anxiety. Scripts put pressure on memory and reduce flexibility, leaving little room for natural interaction with the audience.
What to Do Instead
Focus on structuring your talk using the Nano Speech:
Outline the opening, key points, and closing without memorising every word
Use short bullet points or prompts rather than a full script
Practice speaking naturally, allowing space for adaptation during the presentation
By structuring instead of scripting, your delivery feels authentic, confident, and connected to the audience.
Mistake 5 – Hiding Behind the Podium
Standing behind a podium creates a physical and psychological barrier between you and your audience. It can make you appear distant, reduce trust, and weaken engagement. Many presenters feel safer behind a podium, but this comes at the cost of connection.
What to Do Instead
Step out from behind the podium and engage your audience:
Stand tall with open posture
Maintain eye contact throughout your talk
Move naturally across the stage or room to enhance connection
Stepping away from the podium builds rapport and allows your audience to focus on your message, not the barrier between you.
Mistake 6 – Opening with a Joke
Starting a presentation with a joke is risky. Comedy is difficult, and if the joke does not land, it can distract from your message and make you feel insecure. Not every audience will share your sense of humour, and trying to be funny adds unnecessary pressure.
What to Do Instead
Open with clarity and connection:
Begin with a personal story, question, or surprising fact
Connect immediately to the topic or message
Use humour sparingly and only if it aligns naturally with your story
A strong, relevant opening establishes credibility and sets the tone for your presentation without the risk of losing audience attention.
Mistake 7 – Filling Time Instead of Focusing on Value
Many speakers believe they need to fill every minute, but this often dilutes the message. Speaking longer does not equate to more impact. Rambling or over explaining can frustrate your audience and reduce engagement.
What to Do Instead
Focus on delivering concise, value driven content:
Identify the core points your audience needs to remember
Cut unnecessary words, examples, or repetitions
Deliver your message efficiently without feeling pressured to fill time
When you prioritize value over duration, your presentation becomes clearer, more engaging, and memorable.
Mistake 8 – Watching Yourself Back Without a Plan
Recording your presentation can help you improve, but reviewing footage without focus can increase self-doubt. Watching mistakes repeatedly can reinforce anxiety and lead to overthinking.
What to Do Instead
Review recordings with intention:
Set specific objectives for what you want to improve
Look for positives to build on strengths
Focus on a few actionable improvements at a time
Using recordings strategically allows you to learn, grow, and reinforce confidence rather than increase stress.
Mistake 9 – Comparing Yourself to Other Speakers
It is easy to compare yourself to professional presenters, TEDx speakers, or industry leaders, but this can be discouraging. Everyone has a unique speaking journey, and trying to imitate others reduces authenticity and increases pressure.
What to Do Instead
Focus on your own progress:
Track improvements based on your previous talks
Develop your own style and leverage your unique strengths
Celebrate small wins and milestones in your speaking journey
Concentrating on your development rather than others ensures growth without the stress of unrealistic comparisons.
Mistake 10 – Over or Under Practicing
Practicing too little can leave you unprepared, while over-practicing can make your delivery sound stiff and unnatural. Both extremes can harm confidence and reduce engagement.
What to Do Instead
Find the right balance for preparation:
Practice enough to feel familiar with key points
Avoid rehearsing every word to maintain natural delivery
Skip last-minute practice to prevent undermining confidence
Balanced practice builds confidence, reinforces clarity, and allows you to adapt dynamically during your presentation.
Additional Tips to Elevate Your Presentation Skills
Practice your delivery regularly: Build confidence by rehearsing your open, body, and close structure
Engage your audience early: Start with a story, question, or surprising fact to capture attention
Keep it simple: Avoid overcomplicating slides or transitions; clarity drives comprehension
Make your call to action memorable: End with actionable steps your audience can follow
These principles ensure your presentations are impactful, engaging, and well-received, giving you the best chance of achieving your desired outcome.
Actionable Takeaways for Successful Presentations
Don’t use the 10/10/10 structure. Instead use the open, body, close structure to capture attention, deliver your main point and inspire your audience with a call to action.
Stop making everything about your slides. You are the main event, your slides are the support act. Design your slides so the presentation is only complete with your narrative around it.
Plan clear transitions between your main points. If you are unclear on this you will end up rambling or ruining your call to action at the end. Clarity on these will help you deliver, and ensure you land your message with the audience.
Avoid these pitfalls and elevate your presentations in the Ultimate Guide to Public Speaking
TL;DR
Many common presentation mistakes reduce audience engagement and increase speaker stress, but they can be fixed with the right approach.
Ditch the 10/10/10 structure; use the Nano Speech (Open, Body, Close) to capture attention, deliver key points, and end with a memorable call to action.
Make yourself, not your slides, the focus: slides should support your message with one point per slide and minimal text.
Plan smooth transitions between points to maintain clarity and audience focus.
Avoid scripting every word, hiding behind a podium, opening with jokes, or over/under practicing, prioritize natural, confident delivery.
Focus on your own growth, review recordings intentionally, and emphasize value over duration for a clear, engaging, and memorable presentation.
More from Liam Sandford
Read my book: Effortless Public Speaking. Learn how to speak confidently, reduce stress, and turn public speaking into your competitive advantage. These actionable public speaking tips will help you improve your presentation skills for any audience.
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