The document provides sarcastic advice on things speakers should avoid doing in a presentation, such as talking about personal medical issues, dressing uncomfortably, having incorrect information in the slide deck, answering audience questions during the presentation instead of after, reading slides verbatim, using small font on many slides, and including excessive additional information in closing slides. The advice is meant to humorously illustrate common mistakes speakers make that can negatively impact their presentations.

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2. What Sort of Speaker Are You?
Perhaps you are the confident speaker
who pats yourself on the back after a
presentation. Or maybe you’re the
timid type who feels successful because
you didn’t faint or worse…
Both can types can tank a presentation
without even knowing it.
Here’s how…
2014 © The Gija Group, LLC - stockimages/Ambro/imagerymajestic-freedigitalphotos.net

3. But I Digest…
Go ahead and tell your audience
about the “sketchy” airline food
messing up your system and that
you may have to leave early.
To fill any awkward silences, feel
free to share personal information
about your relationships or
political views.
2014 © The Gija Group, LLC - stockimages/Ambro/imagerymajestic-freedigitalphotos.net
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4. Dress for Comfort
Make yourself comfortable.
Don’t stress about what
the audience may think of
your fashion choices.
Hey, they invited you to
speak so it’s more
important that they make
YOU feel comfortable.
2014 © The Gija Group, LLC - stockimages/Ambro/imagerymajestic-freedigitalphotos.net
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5. The PowerPoint is WRONG
2014 © The Gija Group, LLC - stockimages/Ambro/imagerymajestic-freedigitalphotos.net
The audience doesn’t mind at
all if the information on your
PowerPoint presentation is
wrong.
They’ll understand if you edit
it during your presentation
instead of prior to it.
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6. Answer EVERY Question
Why bother answering questions
during breaks or after the
presentation when you can do it
during your presentation?
An audience of 200 people won’t
mind that your having a conversation -
-on a microphone- with 2 people.
Oh, and don’t bother repeating the
question into that microphone. The
rest of the group will “catch up”.
2014 © The Gija Group, LLC - stockimages/Ambro/imagerymajestic-freedigitalphotos.net
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7. Read Directly from the Screen
It’s been a long time since
most of your audience had a
story read to them. They’ll
appreciate looking at the back
your head as you slowly read
your presentation from the
large screen.
2014 © The Gija Group, LLC - stockimages/Ambro/imagerymajestic-freedigitalphotos.net
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8. Use All Available Slide Space
You have a lot to say and you
are going to be sure everyone
knows it - verbatim.
Use size 12 font or smaller on slide
after slide.
Bonus: You can print out the 50
page presentation for the
audience to read on the plane
ride home.
2014 © The Gija Group, LLC - stockimages/Ambro/imagerymajestic-freedigitalphotos.net
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9. 2014 © The Gija Group, LLC - stockimages/Ambro/imagerymajestic-freedigitalphotos.net
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