You've spent the time creating a great presentation. You've carefully selected your
content. You've decided what
stories, facts and illustrations to use.
You've put together a good looking set of PowerPoint slides. You've thought about how you'll
transition from point to point in your presentation. But have you taken on the hardest part? Yes, I'm talking
about actually rehearsing your presentation!
Below are some tips as you prepare for your next presentation
that will help you take your concept from script to wonderful delivery.
Step 1: Use your
script or detailed outline
What to Do:
If you've developed a script or a detailed outline, read from
your notes out loud at least three times (or as many as it takes to become
comfortable with your material).
Read it standing up. As you
go through the presentation, use your visual aids. Click that PowerPoint slide. Play that video clip.
Press the button on the machine you're demonstrating. Make all the motions just as you plan
to do during the actual presentation.
If at all possible, practice in the space where you'll be
giving your presentation. If
that's not available, rehearse as near to the actual conditions as you can
get.
Why Do It:
Reading from your script or outline several times helps you
to visualize the pages, the words and the sections of your presentation.
This will aid further recall of the words when you move to the next step
of the process.
By working through the presentation in this manner before
going to the next step, you'll start to see where your presentation is
awkward. The awkwardness may come
from the phrases you use. It may
come from the transitions from one topic to another. It could be you've forgotten to mention something in the
first part of your presentation that you refer to later in your
presentation. You'll find out what
actions such as clicking a slide or demonstrating an application don't work
given how the material is flowing.
This gives you a chance to see how you need to adjust your presentation to
make your material flow and fit into the time space you're allotted.
I often find myself needing better transitions between
topics, moving or deleting slides, rewording how I plan to say particular
phrases and it's much easier to see what changes are needed by physically
talking through the presentation and making the needed adjustments. It almost never works in real life how
you envisioned it in your head.
Step 2 - Develop a Key Words Outline & Rehearse with It
What to do:
Assuming you have a long presentation and can't memorize the
entire thing, develop a one-page outline which lists the major parts of your
speech and key words to remind you what is included in that section.
Then, practice your speech working through each section,
referring to keywords when needed to jog your memory of what comes next.
Try delivering the speech two or more times in a row, then give yourself
a break and come back and deliver it three or four more times. Expect to
fumble and miss things the first few times you do this. Expect to need to
sneak a peek at the full script the first few times to see what you missed or
find that great wording you wrote down earlier. But force yourself to go
through the whole presentation using only your key word outline. Again,
do this out loud, standing up, as close to the real location as you can get, using
any visual aids or equipment you plan to use.
Why Do This:
Survey what makes a presentation boring and you will find
among the most popular answers - "when a speaker reads their speech." No matter how well crafted or brilliant
your words are, if you read your presentation, you will be less effective than
a speaker who knows his content and delivers less than perfect wording doing so
with confidence and looking the audience in the eye. Force yourself to give up your notes and go to a keyword
outline. Force yourself to
practice repeatedly with the keyword outline to ensure you know your material
and can go from point to point in your presentation. I love how Scott Berkun puts it in his book, Confessions of a Public Speaker: "I don't practice to make perfect
and I don't memorize...My intent is simply to know my material so well that I'm
very comfortable with it.
Confidence, not perfection, is the goal." It's not about memorizing but internalizing your
message. It's not so important
that you get the wording exactly right. What's most important is to
sincerely communicate your message.
This approach allows you to be "in the moment" with your audience so you
can adjust to what ever happens in the room and serve your audience best.
Step 3: Watch
Yourself - Video Recording and Using a Mirror
What to Do:
At least once or twice during these rehearsal times, practice
in front of a mirror (even if you can't use your visual aids during that
rehearsal) so you can watch your facial expressions and your hand gestures as
you practice. Or better yet, record yourself with an audio recorder,
video recorder or both.
Why Do It:
Watching yourself will help you to see and hear any annoying
habits that could detract from your message. It give you the ability to ensure your body language
reinforces your message. Video is
especially good at pointing out any distracting behaviors that can detract from
your message. For extra credit,
watch the video with the sound off, then listen to yourself without watching
the video. It can be a rude
awakening. But better that you see
it for yourself and fix it, then have a negative impact in getting your message
across to your audience.
Step 4 - Memorize Certain Parts
What to Do:
Memorize the important parts of your presentation. Memorize the opening - particularly the
first few sentences. Memorize the closing - the powerful ending that you
want to leave your audience with. And if applicable, one or two sentences that you really like.
Why Do It:
Memorizing those key parts will make a big difference in how
you connect with your audience.
Memorizing the opening allows you to deliver those lines while making
great eye contact with your audience.
Memorizing the close gives you another chance to make sure you give your
audience more great eye contact as you leave them with your final message.
You can also practice in the car, in the shower, brushing
your teeth, or in your mind as you prepare for a presentation to help reinforce
your speech. But the best rehearsal will be standing on your feet,
speaking out loud, working with your visual aids.
So practice more and worry less.
