For many researchers, the transition from the bench to the podium is fraught with anxiety. You are an expert in your field, yet you may find your presentations falling flat. According to Rick Parmely, founder of Polished and Professional LLC, the difference between a "good" presentation and a "truly great" one often isn’t about adding more data—it’s about subtracting the bad habits we’ve all accepted as normal.

In the webinar below, "Being an Effective Public Speaker by Avoiding 10 Common Mistakes," Parmely outlines a framework specifically designed for technical professionals. While the video details the complete solution for correcting these errors, here is the full list of traps you need to stop falling into immediately.

Mistake #1: Ignoring the Audience

Scientists often present "to" the screen or "at" the room. Parmely argues that the first fatal error is failing to recognize who is in the seats. Are you speaking to peers, stakeholders, or non-experts? Tailoring your message is step one.

Mistake #2: The "Data Dump"

The belief that you must present every piece of data to prove your work is a trap.

• The Reality: Your audience cannot process a firehose of information. Parmely emphasizes the need to curate your data for impact, not just completion.

Mistake #3: Underestimating Practice

"I know my topic, so I don't need to rehearse."

• The Reality: Knowing your subject is not the same as knowing your presentation. Lack of vocal rehearsal leads to stumbling and low confidence.

Mistake #4: The "Robotic" Delivery (No Humor)

Many scientists believe that "professional" means "serious" and "impersonal," leading them to avoid humor even when it fits.

• The Fix: You don’t need to be a comedian, but failing to use humor when appropriate makes you unapproachable and bores the brain.

Mistake #5: Neglecting Storytelling

Facts appeal to the mind, but stories appeal to the heart.

• The Trap: Relying 100% on dry data.
• The Fix: Even technical data needs a narrative. Parmely discusses how to weave stories into scientific talks to make the data stick.

Mistake #6: Poor Visuals (The "Eye Chart")

We’ve all seen it: a slide with 12-point font and a massive table. If the audience is reading your slide, they aren't listening to you.

Mistake #7: Relying on Crutches (Reading)

Turning your back to the audience to read your slides is a cardinal sin. It breaks the connection and tells the audience you aren't prepared.

Mistake #8: Ignoring Logistics

The mistake happens before you speak. Failing to check the room, the lighting, or the projector creates "technical difficulties" that kill your momentum before you start.

Mistake #9: Poor Timing

Rushing through your final slides because you mismanaged your time is disrespectful. It forces you to skip your most important conclusions.

Mistake #10: The Weak Finish ("Questions?")

Ending your talk with a slide that just says "Questions?" is a waste of prime real estate.

• The Reality: A great speaker concludes with a powerful summary statement that drives the main point home before opening the floor.

Watch the Full Framework

Identifying these mistakes is only step one. The harder part is replacing them with the correct behaviors.

In the presentation below, Rick Parmely doesn’t just list the problems—he provides the options for correction. Watch the video to learn:

• The specific framework for "Good Presenting Style."
• How to recover if you realize you are losing the room.
• The correct way to structure your opening and closing.

Watch the full webinar here:

Key Takeaways to Look For

As you watch the presentation above, pay close attention to how Parmely suggests handling the "Q&A" transition. It is a simple tweak that can completely change the energy of your final moments on stage.

Speaker

Rick Parmely is the founder of Polished and Professional LLC, a training company that specializes in improving the communications of groups as diverse as individual scientists and managers, or groups of trainers. After teaching undergraduate chemistry at West Point and Juniata College, Rick joined Restek Corporation in 1997 and currently directs their technical education program. He teaches communication techniques, chemistry, and separation science theory. With 30-plus years of teaching experience, Rick has taught science and communications courses to widely diverse audiences, including NATO officials, technicians at the U.N. Pesticides Laboratory in Austria, flavor scientists in Shanghai, China, and scientists at the University of Nairobi, as well as to hundreds of domestic clients.