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How to Give a Lousy Presentation

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page 10 of 11

Carmine Gallo Aug 26, 2009 2:40 PM GMT Hilarious anecdotes. Keep them coming. Here is one from reader Jack Powers: Show up without knowing how to connect your computer to the projector.
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Chris B Aug 26, 2009 2:39 PM GMT And please, don't ever use Apple's Keynote instead of PowerPoint, because using Keynote will make you look far too good, like your preso was done for the eveing news....
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Cindy Hoffman Aug 26, 2009 2:36 PM GMT One of my favorites:the overzealoususe of the laser pointer. Presentersend up looking as ifthey're waging a light sword battleor conducting anorchestra.
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Lzi Aug 26, 2009 2:11 PM GMT And don't forget to mumble. Low talking can be almost as effective but best accomplished if you constantly insert "so..." and "ummm."
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Beth Aug 26, 2009 2:06 PM GMT Get your assistant to make your presentation, don't read it, show up late to the venue, don't rehearse and then bash your a/v support and tech team when something goes wrong. Call extra attention to the issue by not practicing with the confidence monitor/teleprompter and then blame the a/v guys when you lose your place/don't know what your next slide is. Saying things like "the lights up here suck" "what's with this projector?" and "the sound in here is awful, isn't?" doesn't make you look cool to your audience; it makes you look like a classless jerk who beats up on his/her team and points fingers.
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Jourdan Aug 26, 2009 1:56 PM GMT Great article!
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Edward Shelswell-White Aug 26, 2009 1:50 PM GMT (Sorry; hit submit in midstream by mistake) I have seen many potentially good presentations ruined by overzealous questioning from audience-members whose questions would have been answered more effectively and efficiently if they just had the good grace to listen to the presentation first.
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Edward Shelswell-White Aug 26, 2009 1:46 PM GMT Carmine - Great points. Thanks. As a followup, could you write about how to be a better audience? I have seen many potentially good presentations ruined by overze
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Chris M. Aug 26, 2009 1:42 PM GMT Use a clicker that either doesn't work half the time or gets stuck therefore fastforwarding your slides at the tune of 10 per second. If the crowd cheers, you know it's time to sit down...
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monica levy Aug 26, 2009 1:25 PM GMT Ask people to hold their questions until the end, then use up all the time so you can race out without having answered any of them. Dismiss alternative points of view to your own.
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