Don't Screw up your Presentation

Presentations are key. As a leader, you will do more than your share. To be a good leader, you need to improve your presentations. They might be related to selling a concept, exciting your team, or selling a solution. I have seen my share of presentations and have some pet peeves that I have about them (for example, when the presenter just reads the slides, or when there is no passion to the presentation - if the presenter does not care about the subject, why should I?). I found this article on Forbes.com about some known mistakes in presentations.

I like to presentations; they give you immediate feedback and if done correctly can really energize a room! However, I did not always like to do them, it came with experience . . . the more you do, the better you will do it! So, get out there and do a presentation (even if in front of your family)!

10 Presentation Killers
When the pressure's on, don't fall prey to these rookie mistakes.
By Maureen Farrell

Faulty Numbers
Miscalculations, overly zealous projections or failure to explain missed numbers are all deadly. Make sure your story matches the market and the numbers you present. Investors don't want to work with a management team that doesn't have a firm grip on reality.
Crowded Slides
"People spend too much time creating [Microsoft] PowerPoint slides and not enough time developing the key points of a presentation," says Gary Hankins, author of the Power of the Pitch. Follow the "six by six rule": no more than six bullet points of text on a slide, and no more than six words per bullet point
Showing Your Backside
Never turn your back on the audience for more than a second or two. If there's a chart or graph you need to explain, remember the three T's: touch, turn and talk. Use a pointer to call attention to a certain fact or figure, but then make sure to face the audience when you're making your point.
Not Showing Them The Money
Sure, investors want to hear about the nuts and bolts, but don't spend your entire presentation explaining every esoteric detail of your software. Each nugget you share should serve to demonstrate--clearly and quickly--the company's money-making potential
No Knockout Punch
Every good presentation needs a good closer---and not merely a summation of points and a simple thank you, says Hankins. Get feedback: If you don't, and the audience has objections, "you could get dismissed without the opportunity to disprove them."
Failing to Anticipate The "Killer Three" Questions
Your delivery might be flawless, your PowerPoint slides works of art. But if you flub the "killer three" questions your audience is likely to ask, you're toast. The "killer three" is different for each presentation, says Hankins, but you should still try to identify them. (Hint: Focus hard on your company's core value proposition.)
Multiple Messages
There are myriad interesting nuances to your business. We have some news: Investors don't care. What your presentation needs is a clear, consistent theme. If you don't know it, the audience won't either--and confusion is cancer to a presentation.
Splintered Team
Splitting a presentation into separate sections each handled by a different person is defensible (if a bit distracting). Still, each team member should be up to speed on all parts, if only to convey a sense of cohesion about the team and its ability to execute.
Not Knowing Your Audience
Get this wrong and you should consider a different line of work. If you are looking for seed funding for your software company, don't pitch a late-stage venture capital firm that focuses on the energy sector. Likewise, if you are pitching to the head of purchasing, focus on price and delivery and save the bells and whistles for the head of engineering.
Ignoring The Risks
All businesses have inherent risks. Don't ignore them and don't pretend they aren't there--it's insulting, and smart investors (and customers) won't stand for it. Instead, identify the risks and explain how you plan to deal with them--and perhaps even turn them to your advantage some day.