You are suggesting to your presentation audience that they can’t read and so you will do it for them.

I haven’t met anyone who likes or appreciates having slides read out to them. I have however, met countless professionals who agree it’s the ultimate presentation mistake yet continue to read slides themselves.

Solution – Craft a conversation rather than a recital. Remember that your audience have come to listen to you speak, not to read to them.

If you have, it’s likely that the content was simply not relevant to you. It can be extremely frustrating listening to irrelevant content. Imagine how you would respond if an audience member stopped you half way through your presentation and asked; ’ Why exactly are you telling us this, how will that information help me?’

Solution – As you craft your presentation, ensure that everything you plan to say, show or do is of relevance and value to your audience. If it’s not completely relevant, leave it out.

The Mindful Presenter does everything they can to make their content a part of themselves and so they spend many hours rehearsing.

Not memorising, just rehearsing.

They know their content inside and out and leave no stone unturned in ensuring that everything they have crafted to say and the way they say it will be of significance to their audience.

Mindful presenting is about internalising our message.

Solution – Own your message – Internalise your message. Practice the verbal and non-verbal expression of your presentation.

What is the one thing you want your audience to take from your presentation when they return to their car or desk?

If your audience could ‘Tweet’ the content of your presentation with one, clear message what would they ‘Tweet’.

If you don’t know the answer to that question your presentation will probably be forgotten in a heart beat.

Solution – Set a clear, rich and compelling message. Make sure that everything you share supports it and don’t forget to repeat it.

If you don’t have a very clear answer to that question, it’s highly likely they won’t do anything at all with the information you share with them.

Solution – Set a clear and meaningful objective for exactly what you want your audience to do at the end of your presentation. Make sure you tell them.

If you don’t have a very clear answer to that question, it’s highly unlikely that you will feel it yourself.

If you don’t feel it the moment you begin to craft and deliver your presentation your audience won’t either.

There are two types of presenter. The mindful minority understand the power of intention.

Solution – Set a clear and meaningful intention for how you want your audience to feel emotionally.

The primary purpose of any presentation is to share information with your audience. Disorganised, boring or irrelevant content is the fastest way to annoy, bore or lose your audience.

Solution – Make your presentation content rich and compelling

Solution – Don’t rely on your charm or talent. Do the work.

Solution – Prepare, prepare, prepare.

Solution – Remember that your audience have come to hear you, not to see your slides. If visuals don’t add significant value to your audience, don’t use them.

Solution – One idea per slide; no more. Don’t clutter slides; less is more.

Bullet points are a signpost that they need to brace themselves for a long, boring presentation.

Solution – Use images instead! If you have to use bullet points have as few as possible and keep the short!

What do you do?

In public speaking and presenting it's worth remembering that whilst we are all unique and have a vast range of very personal and specific needs at the core we are all the same. That knowledge and understanding can be very helpful to us and our audience when we sit down to craft our presentation.

If your audience don't remember your presentation then you've wasted their time and yours.

Public speaking is about making a difference to people and the only way presenters can do that is by understanding the expectations of their audience and then mindfully managing those expectations.

It's about the impact and difference it makes in real terms to our audience that counts. Whether a presentation takes 5 minutes or 25 minutes is largely irrelevant; it's about impact.

If you are giving a presentation its crucial that you make eye contact with your audience. That doesn't mean the presenter scanning the room, it means taking a few seconds to genuinely make eye contact with as many members of the audience as possible.

There is the presentation you prepared

The presentation you delivered

The presentation you wish you had delivered

When it comes to high impact presenting and public speaking there are no hacks or short cuts. To craft and deliver a great presentation you have to put in the work. The good news is, if you're prepared to do the work there is a great deal you can do.

Many presentations end with a lack of clarity and imagination. They often drift off like damp fireworks. Closing your presentation with impact is a must for every presenter.

Don't start your presentation by saying words such as 'look', listen, 'let's be clear'.

The challenge in public speaking and presenting is to breathe life into our words which visual can help with if used effectively while presenting.