6 Public Speaking Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them

The applauses comes to an end and I felt fantastic about the information I had just delivered to a local Chamber of Commerce. As people were gathering their things, one man stopped by to tell me how much he enjoyed the talk. "That was great. So much information, I'm not sure where to start."

As he walked away, I stood there in shock. I had overwhelmed my audience.

Public speaking is a skill that is fine tuned with experience, feedback, and time on the stage. So if you're new to the skill of presenting, rest assured with a little perseverance you can learn to be compelling, captivating, and converting without being left there standing with your jaw on the ground like I was that day.

Keep reading, I’m sharing the six most common speech mistakes that can derail your talk and how to fix them. These aren’t just tweaks; these shifts will transform your audience’s experience and make you unforgettable.

Mistake #1: Overloading Your Audience

Your audience wants clarity, not a crash course in everything you’ve learned through the years. Cramming too much into one talk will overwhelm your audience, which leads to them doing NOTHING except scratching their head what to do first.

Fix It: Embrace the “Rule of Three.” Focus on three key takeaways that your audience can implement immediately. Simple and actionable steps beats an exhaustive list and firehose of information every time. (You can always come back for another presentation to dive into more.)

Mistake #2: Failing to Engage With Your Audience

Even the best information falls flat if your audience feels disconnected from you. Speaking at your audience instead of to them can make the difference of them feeling like you’re just another boring speaker. Be with your audience fully, as if you’re speaking to a group of close friends without the TMI moments.

Fix It: Build rapport. Use storytelling, humor, and real-time engagement to make your talk interactive. Arrive early to meet attendees and, if speaking virtually, leverage tools like polls or chat to create a dynamic experience.

Mistake #3: An Unclear Call to Action

As the speaker you need to inspire action, have your audience think differently, or believe something new. But if your call to action is vague or nonexistent you’re leaving your audience without a next step. Whoever is hiring you, wants the audience to move forward.

Fix It: Decide on one primary call to action and integrate it naturally into your talk. Whether it’s joining your email list, booking a call, or following you online, make it easy and compelling.

To learn more about these 3 mistakes, listen to

Ep 264. Common Public Speaking Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them  [PART 1]

Mistake #4: Skipping Audience Research

A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works in public speaking. If you don’t tailor your talk to your audience’s needs, they’ll tune out and there goes your recommendation to other speaking opportunities.

Fix It: Take the time to understand your audience. Use the name of the company, department, association, or relate your speech to their mission statement. These are just a few ways to connect more with your audience and make them feel like you get them.

Mistake #5: Running Over Time

No one likes a speaker who takes more time than they’re given. It’s disrespectful to your audience and can ruin your reputation.

I was in the audience watching a speaker rush through her slides, when she took a second to ask how much longer she had. 10 minutes was the answer. If I was her, I would gone right into my closing. However, this "new" speaker felt the need to say everything she had planned on saying. In the end she finished 15 minutes AFTER her time slot. The audience got up and headed for the door to get to their offices quickly.

Fix It: Practice pacing your presentation. Know exactly how long each section takes and always aim to finish slightly early. You might be asked to shorten your talk, because of an over-winded speaker before you. Be prepared to make seamless adjustments on the fly.

Mistake #6: Forgetting to Follow Up

Your presentation might end when you step off the stage, but the relationships you’re building are just beginning. Failing to follow up is a missed opportunity to extend your impact.

Fix It: Create a follow-up plan and implement it each time you speak. Send an email within 48 hours asking for feedback, testimonial, and a referral to another group or association that might benefit from hearing your speech.

To learn more about mistakes 4-6, listen to part 2

Ep 268. Common Public Speaking Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them  [PART 2]

Why Fixing These Mistakes Matters

Avoiding these six mistakes isn’t just about delivering a polished presentation—it’s about making an impact. When you engage your audience, respect their time, and leave them with clear next steps, you position yourself as a speaker they’ll remember long after the event is over.

This is how you turn a good talk into a great one—and how you turn one speaking opportunity into many more. By implementing these tips, you’ll stand out, get invited back, and, most importantly, inspire your audience to take action. So what are you waiting for? Your next unforgettable talk starts here.

Ready to be the speaker at events filled with your ideal clients in the audience and look like a pro even if your very first time on stage? Book a call with me to learn more about the various programs I have to write and deliver a Compelling, Captivating, and most importaly Converting presentation.

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