1) Lack on Enthusiasm

For instance you are showing your product at dragons den. You believe I yourself that your product is the next best thing.. But why are you slouching? Why are you mumbling? Why do you look like you cannot be bothered?  If you are trying to put a point to someone you must make them believe in you, before they can believe what you tell them. If you show enthusiasm and show that you do believe in yourself, then what choice do they have but to put some faith in you?

How to Avoid This Barrier: Show Some Enthusiasm

Begin paying attention to the type of facial expressions you use and when you use them. You may not be aware of when you frown, roll your eyes, or scowl. Make sure your facial expressions are appropriate based on your topic, listeners and objective. When you’re smiling while communicating a serious or negative message, you create a discrepancy between your facial expression and your message. The same discrepancy applies when you’re communicating a positive message without facial expressions. Once you have increased your awareness of facial expressions, practice the skill of incorporating them into your message, matching the appropriate expression to each situation. You wouldn't want to have a stone-cold look on your face when you are expressing your passion for your company’s products, because if when you have the facial expression of a brick wall, they defiantly wont feel the urge to purchase you’re companies product. 

2) Most people have some kind of thing they do when talking to a crowd or to others (fiddle with their pen, twiddle their thumbs, play with the ring on their finger.. The list goes on) but when told about the sometimes uncomprehendable habit they have, they hold their hands or show them in their pockets as to do nothing.

How to Avoid This Barrier: Use Gestures for Emphasis

Confident speakers use gestures to add emphasis to their words. To gesture with purpose, avoid locking your elbows at your sides or creating the same repetitious gestures. Instead, expand your gestures from your sides and let your hands emphasize and describe your message. Add variety to your gestures by relaxing your arms back to your sides after you complete a gesture.

When your gestures create a visual image for your listeners, they’ll remember more information and will remember your message longer.
Gestures will grab your listener’s attention. Gestures add energy and inflection to your voice and use your adrenaline to project your point rather then make it look like you've been waiting for the toilet far too long.

3) Lack of Focus

The more you add information that isn’t necessary or overwhelming, the greater the risk your listeners will misinterpret your point or just daze out and not listen.

How to Avoid This Barrier: Stay Focused

When you begin to say too much and feel like a train about to derail, put the brakes on and get yourself back on track … STOP! Keep your objective in mind. Think in terms of what your listener needs to know about what you want them to do, not what you want to tell them. Put thought into your words.

Focus your message on three significant points. Pay attention to your listener. Are they hanging on your every word or are they dazed, thinking about what they would rather be wasting their time doing? Are they attentive or fidgeting? 

         4) PowerPoint is meant to be used to show notes and help you explain something that you are mostly aware of, to provide that little kick up the backside that your explanation just might need in-order to aid you in putting your point across. It is meant to provide visual aids and support your message through images and illustrations.

How to Avoid This Barrier: Design Visual Aids, not Wordy Slides

How you design your visual aids will determine your ability to stay connected with your listener. Create PowerPoint slides with more pictures and fewer words.  Ask yourself, “Why am I using this PowerPoint slide?”

Identify how your PowerPoint slide best supports your message based on the following criteria:

- Listener expectations and needs.

- Listener experience and knowledge level.

- Objectives.

- Time frame.

- Number of participants.

Save details for handouts. Your listeners will appreciate a conversational approach with interaction accompanied by ‘take-aways’ they may use as a resource. Stay away from software overkill. If you’re clicking the mouse every few seconds, your visual aids are the message and you are the backup. If you’ve been using the same PowerPoint design for more than six months, it’s time to make a change! Stop disconnecting with your listener by talking to your visual aids. Only speak when you see eyes! Pause when you refer to your visual aids and stay connected with your listener.

5) Um… what perception… like… do you create… you know… when you hear… um… a speaker using… uh… words that clutter… you know… their language? Knowledgeable, credible and confident are labels which probably don’t come to mind.. More what zoo did they find this guy at?

 How to Avoid This Barrier: Eliminate Filler Words
- Benefits for you:

- Think on your feet.

- Get to the point and avoid rambling.

- Take a relaxing breath.

- Hold your listener’s attention.

- Gain control over your message

6) Lack of Eye Connection

The only way to build a relationship is through trust. When you forget what to say, you will look at

 the ceiling, floor, PowerPoint slides or anywhere away from your listener. When you disconnect 

you’ll say: “uh” “um” “so” “and”, etc.

How to Avoid This Barrier: Keep Your Eyes On Your Audience

When speaking to more than two individuals, connect with one individual for a complete 

sentence or thought. Take a moment to pause as you transition your eyes from one individual to 

another.

When rehearsing, ask your listener to immediately give you feedback when you look away from them while you’re speaking.