By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

There's no way around it. No matter what role you have in Medical Affairs, or any role in pharma or biotech, presentation skills are critical. And they are often the most challenging part of the job.

In the Aspire MSL program, refining presentation skills is a huge focus because it's where aspiring MSLs struggle most. We spend A LOT of time on this. The presentation is a major part of the interview process and can be the difference between getting the job or not.

But the need to give killer presentations doesn’t end there. MSLs give presentations to various audiences weekly, and many find it difficult. Not only that, medical leadership is frustrated by their team's communication skills. This frustration often leads to requests for more training and coaching on how to present effectively.

Here’s some feedback we’ve heard from MSLs:

• “My manager wants me to present data as more of a story.”
• “I keep having technical issues virtually.”
• “I struggle with transitions when presenting safety and efficacy.”
• “I’m nervous about presenting to a small or large group.”
• “I tend to data dump during KOL visits. I just have too much to say!”

Everyone in Medical Affairs has to present, but getting it right is tough. The struggle is real but presenting is essential for career growth, success in your role, and building relationships.

Let’s dive into 3 common presentation mistakes in Medical Affairs that could be holding you back:

• Not connecting with their audience
• Data dumping
• Handling nerves

3 Common Presentation Mistakes in Medical Affairs

1. Ignoring Audience Needs

Medical Affairs has a lot of different stakeholder types from KOLs and HCPs to internal stakeholders like IT. These diverse audiences make effective presentations tricky because they have different backgrounds and expectations.

This makes it hard to connect with your audience. You start to lose them and then they are back on their phones or checking email. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.

Solution: Understand who your audience is and adjust your message accordingly. Make your presentation relevant to their needs.

Tip: Create an audience engagement plan to keep them interested.

2. Data Dumping & Overload

This one is for all the PhDs out that who love data. I mean, who doesn't love data? The people who you are overwhelmed with it, that's who 😜. Medical Affairs professionals often have to present complex scientific information and have a tendency to want to present everything. This drowns the audience and they disengage.

Solution: Focus on the most critical data points that drive your message home. You will want to keep everything but need to learn to ruthlessly cut things out. Another great approach is to use scientific storytelling.

Tip: Before your presentation, ask yourself, 'If I could only share one piece of data, what would it be?' Focus on that.

 “Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple.”

― Woody Guthrie

3. Letting Nerves Get the Best of You

All those little butterflies fluttering around in your stomach can completely derail you. Your mind goes blank, suddenly you’re stumbling over your words and too distracted to think about keeping the audience engaged or asking questions to gather insights. It’s natural to feel nervous, but it doesn’t have to derail your presentation.

Solution: Practice, practice, practice (but don't sound robotic or read off your slides). For me, the intro is where I feel the most nervous and where I spend most of my time practicing. Get your intro down and the rest will flow.

Tip: Prepare for technical difficulties and how you will handle them. Check out the tech tips in this 3 Tech Tips for Flawless Virtual Presentations eBook.

Conclusion: 3 Common Presentation Mistakes in Medical Affairs

Presentations are not just about sharing data, they are an opportunity to build relationships, influence decisions, and advance your career. But when common mistakes get in the way, these opportunities can slip through your fingers. By addressing these issues, you can transform your presentations into one of your greatest assets.

Do you struggle with these common presentation mistakes? How do you overcome them? Please share with me on LinkedIn or post on the MSL Mastery LinkedIn page.

Improve Your Presentation Skills

Mastering presentations will take you far in your career. Plus in Medical Affairs you will have to present all the time, so why not make it into something you are really good at? Check out our MSL Mastery Presentation Course for more tips, frameworks, and strategies to elevate your presentations and avoid these common pitfalls with:

• Specific lessons on how to tailor your presentation for your audience and provide an amazing audience analysis template
• Frameworks like "The Rule of One" and the 4-Step StoryRX
• A detailed practice plan and warm-up exercises help to overcome nerves