9 Common Mistakes in Public Speaking to Avoid

Public speaking rarely fails because of bad ideas. It usually breaks down because of small, avoidable mistakes. Rushing through points, losing eye contact, leaning too hard on slides, or sounding unsure can quietly weaken even a strong message.

These common mistakes in public speaking show up in meetings, presentations, webinars, and video recordings. They don’t mean you’re a bad speaker. They mean something in the structure, pacing, or delivery needs adjustment. Once you spot the pattern, the fix is often simple.

What Public Speaking Mistakes Cost You

Public speaking mistakes do more than create awkward moments. They lower trust, blur your message, and shorten attention. People judge confidence through pacing, posture, voice, and structure. When those basics slip, even strong ideas can sound unclear or unprepared.

Fear often plays a role. The National Social Anxiety Center notes that fear of public speaking is a widely reported top fear, even ranking ahead of fears like death, spiders, or heights. That fear can push speakers to rush, cling to slides, or avoid eye contact. 

Many problems also come from habits that go unchecked, like practicing silently, overloading slides, and filling pauses with “um.” Those patterns shape how your audience hears you, and they can be fixed with clear structure and simple delivery habits.

Common Mistakes in Public Speaking (And How to Fix Them)

Here are some of the most common mistakes in public speaking—and practical ways to correct them.

1. Speaking too fast or too slowly

Why it hurts: Fast speech overloads people. They miss key points and stop tracking the story. Slow speech can feel uncertain and lowers energy.

Common causes: nerves, unclear structure, trying to cover too much, or explaining before you land the main point.

Fix it‍

• Use “speed bumps.” Pause after your main idea, after a statistic, and after a transition like “here’s the key.” Those pauses give the audience time to process.

• Aim for “clear, not quick.” Speak like you’re explaining to one person in the second row. That mental picture keeps pacing steady.

• Use a timer with checkpoints. Don’t just time the full talk. Time the first minute, your main section, and your close. This prevents a rushed start and a rambling middle.

• Mark your script for emphasis. Add notes like “SLOW,” “PAUSE,” and “SMILE” at the exact lines where you want control.

Quick check: If you can’t finish a sentence on one calm breath, you’re rushing.

2. Poor eye contact (or looking down too much)

Why it hurts: Eye contact signals confidence and respect. When your eyes drop often, your message feels less personal and less believable.

Common causes: fear of judgment, trying to memorize word-for-word, or using paper notes that pull your gaze down.

Fix it‍

• Use “look, say, land.” Look at one person, say one full sentence, then move your gaze. This feels natural and steady.

• Scan in zones, not random. Move left-center-right so the whole room feels included.

• Keep notes “glanceable.” If you need notes, use short bullets, not paragraphs.

• Use a teleprompter app for on-camera delivery. It helps you keep your eyes up while you follow your script, which improves connection in video.

Quick check: If you look down at notes during your strongest lines, the delivery will feel distant.

3. Reading from slides or using slides as a script

Why it hurts: When people read, they stop listening. Text-heavy slides split attention and weaken your authority.

Common causes: building slides too late, trying to “prove” value with more words, or not having speaker notes.

Fix it‍

• Build slides that support, not replace, you. Use slides as signposts: a headline, a number, a visual, or a short phrase.

• Use the “5-second test.” If someone can’t understand the slide in five seconds, it’s too dense.

• Move details into your talk track. Put the full explanation in speaker notes or your script so you stay clear and conversational.

• Use visuals with a job. A simple chart, a labeled image, or one stat works better than a paragraph.

Quick check: If your slide has full sentences, you built a script, not a visual.

4. Using filler words and verbal clutter

Why it hurts: Fillers weaken authority and distract from your message, especially right before key points.

Common causes: thinking while speaking, rushing, and unclear transitions.

Fix it‍

• Replace filler with a pause. Silence sounds confident and gives your brain time to choose the next words.

• Use “bridge phrases.” Try “Next,” “Here’s the point,” or “For example” to move cleanly without fillers.

• Train one minute at a time. Practice a single section until it feels clean, then move on.

• Record and track one filler. Fix “um” first, then “like.” One habit at a time sticks.

Quick check: If you say “um” before your main point, your audience will miss the impact.

5. Speaking in a flat tone

Why it hurts: A flat tone makes everything sound equal, so your audience can’t tell what matters most.

Common causes: reading, playing it safe, or not deciding what you want people to feel at each point.

Fix it‍

• Choose your “highlight line.” Pick one sentence per section that deserves extra energy and clarity.

• Use contrast through control, not drama. Slow down for the key idea, then return to normal pace.

• Stress the power words. In each sentence, underline 1–3 words to emphasize.

• Do a “meaning pass.” Read your script once and mark where you want curiosity, urgency, or reassurance.

If every sentence ends the same way, your voice needs more intention.

6. Practicing the wrong way

Why it hurts: Silent practice hides problems. You only find awkward lines, timing issues, and breath control during real speaking.

Common causes: time pressure, relying on familiarity, or practicing without the actual setup.

Fix it‍

• Practice out loud from the start. Your mouth needs reps, not your eyes.

• Use the real environment. Stand up, use your slides, and speak at full volume.

• Run it once, then drill the rough parts. Full run builds flow. Short reps build confidence.

Quick check: If you haven’t practiced out loud at least twice, you’ll feel less steady live.

7. Ignoring audience feedback

Why it hurts: When people get confused or bored, they disengage fast. You must notice and adjust.

Common causes: focusing on memorization, rushing, or sticking to your plan even when the room shifts.

What to watch for‍

• blank stares
• side conversations
• people checking phones
• crossed arms and leaning back

Fix it‍

• Reset with a quick question. A show of hands pulls attention back.
• Simplify your point. Say it again in fewer words.
• Add one example. A short example makes the idea easier to follow.
• Pause for one beat. A short pause gives the room time to catch up.

Quick check: If reactions disappear, shorten the next section and clarify.

8) Weak opening and weak closing

Why it hurts: Your opening decides attention. Your closing decides what people keep. Weak endings make the talk forgettable.

Common causes: starting with long context, saving the message for later, or ending without a clear takeaway.

Fix your opening‍

• Lead with value. Tell them what they’ll learn or do by the end.
  
• Add one anchor. Use a short story, a clear problem, or a strong stat.

Fix your closing‍

• State the main message in one sentence. Make it repeatable.
• Give one next step. A decision, an action, or a simple plan.

If your first 20 seconds have no point, tighten the start.

9. Going over time or missing your timing

Why it hurts: Running long breaks trust and reduces attention. It also pressures the next speaker or meeting agenda.

Common causes: too many points, weak transitions, or practicing without a timer.

Fix it‍

• Use time blocks. Example: 10% opening, 80% main points, 10% close.
• Plan a “cut section.” Choose one optional section you can drop without losing the message.
• Rehearse with pauses included. Pauses matter, and they take time.

If you always “hope” it fits, it won’t. Time it and adjust.

What Skilled Speakers Do on Purpose

Skilled speakers don’t rely on confidence alone. They build control before they walk on stage or hit record. They focus on the audience’s experience first, then shape the talk around what people need to understand, feel, and do next.

That mindset matters. Nancy Duarte, presentation expert and author of Resonate, says “the audience is the hero, and the speaker is the guide.” When you plan with that in mind, your talk stops being a performance and starts feeling useful. You make choices that help people follow you, trust you, and act on what you say.

This approach also lines up with what professionals value. Prezi reports that 70% of professionals believe presentation skills are crucial to success, yet only about one in four actively work to improve them. That gap creates a real advantage. When you practice on purpose and improve your delivery, you stand out fast.

They also treat delivery as a skill you can train. They practice the sections that usually fall apart under pressure, like the opening, transitions, and the close. Then they use simple tools that keep them present instead of pulling their attention away.

Here’s what they do intentionally:

• Lead with one clear message. They can sum up the talk in one sentence, and every point supports it.

• Structure for listening, not reading. They keep sections tight, use clear transitions, and repeat key ideas in plain language.

• Practice out loud with real conditions. They stand up, use their slides or camera setup, and rehearse at full volume so pacing stays steady.

• Drill the hard parts. They repeat the first 30 seconds, tricky lines, and the closing until they sound natural.

• Use pauses on purpose. They pause after the main point and after numbers so people can process.

• Protect eye contact. They avoid paper notes and set up their script so they can glance, not stare down. A teleprompter app can help them stay on track while keeping their gaze up.

• Stay flexible during delivery. If faces look confused, they simplify. If attention drops, they add a quick example or shorten a section to protect the close.

If you want one habit that changes everything, practice the opening and the closing out loud until you can deliver them calmly on one breath. It improves clarity, timing, and confidence fast.

A Simple Checklist to Avoid Common Public Speaking Mistakes

Use this before your next speech, presentation, or webinar.

Message and structure

• I can say my main point in one sentence.
• My talk has 3–5 main points.
• I have a strong opening and a clear closing.

Delivery

• I marked pauses in my script.
• I know where to slow down.
• I practiced out loud at least twice.

Slides and visuals

• Each slide has one idea.
• Slides support my words, not replace them.
• I can present without reading any slide text.

Setup

• Mic and camera work.
• Lighting looks clean.
• I know where to look on screen.
• My script tool is ready if I use one.

Key Takeaways

Strong public speaking starts with the basics. When you control pacing, maintain eye contact, organize your message clearly, and manage your time, your delivery becomes easier to follow and more convincing. Simple slides should support what you say, not compete with it, and practicing out loud helps you catch issues that silent rehearsal never reveals. 

Replacing filler words with calm pauses makes your message sound more confident, and using a teleprompter app can improve flow while helping you keep your eyes up and your focus on the audience.

Want stronger flow and better eye contact? Use Teleprompter.com to keep your script in view and your delivery natural.

FAQ

What are the most common mistakes in public speaking?

The most common mistakes include rushing, low eye contact, reading from slides, filler words, flat tone, weak structure, and poor timing.

How do I stop saying “um” and “like”?

Pause instead of filling space. Slow down at transitions and practice short sections out loud while recording yourself. Track one filler word at a time.

Should I memorize my speech?

No. Aim for clear points and a natural delivery. Use notes or a teleprompter tool to stay on track without sounding robotic.

What if I lose my place mid-speech?

Pause, take a breath, and look at your notes or script. Then restart the sentence with confidence. Most people will not notice a small reset.

How can I sound more confident when I speak?

Practice out loud with your real setup. Use steady breathing, clear pauses, and simple sentences. Confidence comes from preparation and control.