You’ve worked hard on your ideas—don’t let simple messaging missteps keep them from landing. Make your brilliant ideas shine in every presentation by deftly sidestepping common messaging missteps, and give your hard work the influence it deserves every time.
Morgane Peng, Head of Product Design & AI Transformation at Societe Generale, has given and attended many presentations throughout her career—she’s identified several subtle yet consequential messaging mistakes that can derail your presentation. In the next video, Morgane shares these common errors and explains how you can avoid them so that your message lands every time.
Here’s a summary of the mistakes and their solutions:
Lack of context or goals: Don't jump straight in. Always start with a quick recap of your presentation's context and purpose. Consider this your exposition (setting the scene and introducing key elements) or situation stage (providing the background to a challenge or opportunity).
Too generic or too specific: If your message is too basic, your audience tunes out. If it’s too complex, they get lost. Research their knowledge level and tailor information to their needs.
No control of time: Going overtime appears disrespectful and unprofessional. Finishing too early can also make your audience question your competency—aim to use your allotted time with intention—practice to stay within range.
Unfocused storytelling: Too many details dilute your message. Listeners may wonder about your point. Include only the most pertinent elements of your story.
No structure: Lack of structure is a major mistake. Audiences feel lost and remember little. Use structure frameworks, work on transitions, and repeat key points to make sure your message is clear.
The Take Away
If you can avoid common presentation messaging mistakes, you can achieve precision, engagement, and get the results you want. Always provide clear context and state your goals so that you align with your audience. Tailor your content to your audience's knowledge level by avoiding overly generic or specific details. Master time control to show professionalism and respect for your audience. Be strategic with storytelling and include only essential elements to maintain focus and impact.
Above all, adopt a strong structure in your presentation because without it, your message risks being lost and forgotten. When you get these elements right, your presentations will be clear, credible, and convincing—every time.
References and Where to Learn More
Discover more presentation mistakes in:
PMC Training’s article, 28 Common Presentation Mistakes. Which are you making?
Impact Factory’s article, 9 Common Presentation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.
Hero Image: © Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0
