3 Presentation Mistakes That Kill Your Pitch (And How to Fix Them)
- JMCC
- Nov 3
- 3 min read
When Nicholas Thibodeau joined the JMCC delegation in his second year at JMSB, he could build financial models in his sleep but struggled with presentations, like most beginning delegates. His coaches gave him three concrete techniques; in no time, Nicholas went from nervous presenter to podiuming in Spain at internationals. Here are those techniques, built from 20 years of experience training delegates.
Mistake #1: You're Not Using the Space
Judges read physical presence as confidence. When you fill the room, you signal that you belong there. A team can present a solution that doesn't make much sense, but pull it off simply by owning the space. That's the power of presence.
The fix: Take a step forward.
Literally. When you're making your most important point, take one step toward the judges. It's a power move that says "this matters, and I'm confident enough to get closer to you while I say it."
The exercise: Find a friend and practice presenting to them. Yes, someone you know. It's actually harder when it's personal. Present a 2-minute pitch on anything. Force yourself to move toward them at least twice. Do this until moving feels natural. Also, make it a habit to fill space in your daily life. In class discussions, in meetings, in conversations. Stand up straight. Take up room. Your body will remember what confidence feels like.
Mistake #2: You're Not Making Eye Contact
You look at your slides. You look at your notes. You glance at the judges but your eyes bounce off the audience.
Why it matters: Eye contact turns a presentation into a conversation. When you look at your audience in the eye while explaining your recommendation you're bringing them into your logic. Judges remember presenters who actually look at them.
The fix: Look at their noses. Sounds weird, but it works. If direct eye contact feels too intense, look at the bridge of their nose. They can't tell the difference. When you're talking about finance, look at the finance person. When you're talking strategy, find the strategy expert. Make it deliberate.
The exercise: Make it a daily practice. In every conversation today, hold eye contact for three full seconds longer than you normally would. In class, when you ask a question, look at the professor. When you're ordering coffee, look at the barista. During practice sessions, have a teammate call out every time you look away from your "judges." You'll be shocked how often you do it without realizing.
Mistake #3: You're Using Filler Words
You know your content. But the "ums," "uhs," and "likes" make you sound unsure.
Why it matters: Filler words are credibility killers. Every "um" is a crack in your authority.
The fix: Slow down, and accept silence as an option: Most people fill silence because it feels awkward. But a deliberate pause is powerful. It gives your point space to land and makes you look thoughtful, not uncertain. When you get stressed during the real presentation, pause. Breathe.
The exercise: Set a timer for 10 minutes. Talk about anything, describe your weekend, explain a concept, pitch an idea, without using a single filler word. If you catch yourself saying "um" or "like," stop. Pause. Start the sentence again. Have a friend count your filler words during a practice presentation. JMCC coaches do this in prep session, and delegates improve faster than they expect because they finally hear what they're doing.
Bonus tip: Master the Handoff
Here's something most people never think about: how you transition between speakers matters as much as your individual performance.
Why it works: A good handoff keeps energy up and signals that your team is tight, that you know each other's content, that this is a unified pitch, not four separate people taking turns. A weak handoff might sound like: "Now Sarah will talk about the financial analysis." while a strong one moves the story forward: "So how do we make this profitable? Sarah's about to show you."
The technique: Lead with a question that sets up your teammate's section. "How do we execute this?" "What does this look like in practice?" Then hand off by name, with confidence. Make it conversational. JMCC delegates rehearse handoffs as much as their content because smooth transitions make the whole presentation feel polished.
Here's what world-class presenting looks like:
Watch JMCC's winning pitch from Spain 2025. You'll see all of these techniques in action: the space control, the eye contact, the clean delivery, the seamless handoffs. Learn from the best.
Get direct guidance from expert coaches by joining winter case class (COMM 299)
Winter 2026 case class registration opens November 16 2025. Spots fill fast, apply early. Join JMCC's fall or winter case class. Our coaches have the trained eye to pick up on exactly what's holding you back and they'll help you fix it.
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