Five Biggest Mistakes Executives Make at the Podium

Rob Sherman, the author of Sherman's 21 Laws of Speaking, says that many intelligent, business-savvy pros who are adept at running a company can end up boring an audience. Here are some common mistakes:

• Starting with a whimper. Many begin with a polite, "Thank you very much for that kind introduction." Instead, get the audience's attention with a startling statistic, an interesting quote, or a news headline.
•Attempting to imitate other speakers. Famous speakers can lend guidance to your speaking style, but it is a mistake to try to emulate these individuals. Do not try wholesale conversion of their personas. You cannot connect with an audience without authenticity.
• Reading a speech word for word. It has been said that the last time someone read to you, it was your mother — and she was trying to get you to go to sleep. Instead of reading, use a "keyword" outline, which will prompt complete thoughts as you speak.
• Using someone else's stories. While you might weave in brief quotes or short stories from other sources, you must illustrate your most profound thoughts from your own life experiences. And if you don't think you have any interesting personal stories to tell, you aren't looking deep enough.
• Seeking perfection. Strive for naturalness instead.