Hey everyone, thank you for clicking. I am Niharika and you are watching me on Skillopedia,
the place to learn skills for the real world. So, what are we gonna look at today? Well,
do you give presentations regularly? Maybe in a boardroom, maybe at a seminar or maybe
at your college and do you wanna deliver that perfect presentation? Then, friends, you should
certainly avoid these 7 mistakes that could spoil your credibility and these mistakes
might create a doubt in the minds of your audiences and damage your image permanently.
So now most public speakers rightfully focus or pay attention to these impactful phrases
and that kind of creates the wow factors and even with best intentions, some phrases that
they speak can actually ruin the presentation. So, what's the use of putting in all the efforts
in creating that awesome presentation, which could actually turn your audience away? So,
let's look at these 7 phrases, the best public speakers never say in their presentations.
So let's have a look at the first phrase, which is I'm sorry. I'm sorry but sorry for
what? Isn’t that an easy phrase to say? I have heard people using that phrase as a
filler in a conversation and they just get so habitual to say, sorry all the time. Now
remember, unless and until you have actually made a big mistake, never apologize for unnecessary
reasons. It only shows you in a poor light and serves you only to discredit you and undermine
your credibility and authority. Let’s look at an example, while you're giving a presentation
and someone from the audience asks you to return to the previous slide for clarification
or speak more loudly and you should happily oblige but don't draw your attention to your
misstep. Saying sorry, a good speaker doesn't apologize for a minor mistake and doing so
only calls for attention to something that would have otherwise have gone unnoticed.
So people stop saying I'm sorry.
So which is the second phrase that they don't use? Well, I'm tired. whether you were up
all night preparing your presentation or your speech or maybe you were out drinking with
your friends or even jet-lagged after that long flight hours, why the hell would you
go an announce that on stage? I don't see any reason you doing so. There is absolutely
no reason that you would make a public display of your tiredness. if you do so and tell your
audience that I'm tired, this will only give the audience an impression that you are not
giving them your best and of course it's unprofessional and a very invalid excuse. Now please understand
people that great public speakers push through and deliver a great speech, regardless of
the circumstances. Always remember that the show must go on. No matter what, after all,
they have gathered to hear you. So, the next time you are tired, don't you ever say that
in front of your audience, that I'm tired.
So what's the third phrase that they end up avoiding? Well, I’m nervous. Of course,
we all get nervous, experiencing anxiety before a public speaking or before delivering a presentation
is perfectly normal but never go out there and tell your audience that, I'm nervous.
Well, it's just gonna create a negative impact on your so-called presenter image. Everyone
gets nervous, even the greatest speakers have those shaky moments, those nervous moments
before that stage appearance but you need to keep those butterflies under the wraps
and never show that anxiety. If you can work on managing your anxiety and then harness
the jitters into excitement. Well, you just might have a little fun and deliver that great
presentation only to be applauded by the audience. so the next time, you are like way too nervous,
don't you go up on the stage and tell your audience that Oh my God, I am so nervous.
Please avoid it.
So what's the next phrase that you need to avoid? Well, I'll make this real quick. Now,
why has the audience come to your presentation? They are there to take away some value out
of those 40 or 60 minutes of your presenting. the audience has made the decision to invest
their time in your presentation, so if you use a phrase like, I'll make this quick or
I'll make it real fast, such phrases not only devalue their investment of time, it also
displays you in poor light as if you don't know how to keep promises or they see you
as if you're a person, most likely not to be on your own words. The best speakers always
rehearse their talks tirelessly. So they know exactly how long their presentation will take.
So always leave enough time at the end to take questions and don't push. You are a public
speaker and are meant to inform and inspire and deliver a speech as quickly as possible.
So the next time, you try to push your presentation, you would not sound professional and people
will not appreciate that. So avoid the phrase that, I'll make this quick.
Let’s have a look at the next phrase that people don't use. Weren’t you listening?
Where were you? Weren’t you listening to what I was saying? Now guys even if you were
clearly answering someone's question in an earlier slide and they were clearly not paying
attention, never scold an audience member. Great lecturers are as gracious as they are
informative. So remain patient and polite, no matter how irritated you are from within
but you can't really say that. well, if someone comes and asks you a question and you know
that this person was definitely not listening to you, you're not gonna go punch his face
or you're not gonna say, hey weren't you listening? That’s not fair, you can't really do that
when you're presenting. So, avoid this phrase that, were you not listening. Just repeat
yourself politely.
So the next phrase that the public speakers do not use is, I'll come back to that. If
an unexpected question throws you off your rhythm, take advantage of the audience's curiosity
and enthusiasm and go with the flow. If you promise to get back to a question and you
never do, the audience member who poses the question may feel neglected and will not take
you seriously. So instead answer directly and if need be, skip ahead to the corresponding
slide. Professionalism and adaptability elevate the best speakers from the rest of the pack.
So, even if it just throws you out of the rhythm, come back to it, go ahead, give the
answer and then move on.
So what's the next phrase that the public speakers avoid? Well, I'm not totally sure
but here it goes. Of course, it's okay to not everything, you're only human after all
but don't offer a half-hearted or an underdeveloped answer if you're not sure of the correct response.
If you're not sure, do not mislead your audience. Instead, ask for that person's contact information
and offer to get back to them, after you have conducted more research. A good public speaker
knows that what he or she is supposed to do and is always committed to give their best.
So the next time someone asks you a question and you're really not sure about it, do not
go ahead by saying that, let me see. Well here I go, I'm not quite sure but this is
what it is. Well trust me, the audience would not believe you the next time. They would
not take you seriously the next time. So do not spoil your image as a presenter, just
go ahead and ask for the information, like the contact information and get back to them
but please do not mislead your audience.
So, friends, that's it from me now. Well, always remember that it takes practise and
effort to deliver a good presentation but if you know how to avoid the pitfalls, your
presentations will be great. Make sure you don't use any of these phrases as these phrases
are sure to damage your image as a great presenter. So good luck all and thank you for watching
us. Do not forget to subscribe to our channel, Skillopedia and do press the bell icon next
to the subscribe button, so that you don't miss on some awesome videos that we make for
you to develop your everyday skills. I really hope you enjoyed this lesson and I would love
to hear from you out like which are the 7 phrases you have been using. Write back to
me in the comments below and now it's time for me to give a presentation, so see you
guys later, you'll have a great day.