A couple months ago, I was giving a  7 minute speech presentation at my local Toastmaster Club. If you had been there listening, you would have seen and heard me lose my place 3 minutes into the speech. Awkwardly, I struggled to get back into the speech.

Eventually I did, but long pauses and losing my place are not acceptable in speeches. Why did this happen?

I had failed to properly practice and internalize the speech. There is a difference between a memorized speech and an internalized speech. When your speech is memorized, you know it word for word. You can rattle it off. Problem is that sometimes it may sound memorized. Also, if you forget just one sentence or get distracted, you may find yourself in my situation: struggling to remember the next line.

A better way is to internalize your speech. Here you know it so well, it is a part of you. If you were asked to share about a good experience from your last vacation, you could very easily. Why? It’s internalized. It’s part of you. Every time you deliver it, it may be slightly different, but it comes out natural and you can focus on delivery.

Over the next several days, you’ll be learning several ways to internalize your presentation so you can deliver it smoothly and completely.

Speech Preparing Tip #16: Have your presentation prepared and ready 3 days before you give it.

Imagine you have a presentation to give on Friday. Set a deadline to be ready to give it on Tuesday. Why?

• As you run through the presentation a couple times over those three days, your subconscious mind will internalize the speech.
• New ideas will pop up, allowing you to optimize the presentation.
• Research shows that sleeping on information after we’ve learned it helps put it into long term memory.

Arlen Busenitz

Arlen Busenitz is an experienced speaker with over 650 presentations. He is Author of several books, CD's,and creator of Become a Better Speaker in One Evening™

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Few can stand up and give a great presentation without practice. Those who do give good, unpracticed presentations, may be cheating their audience. If they had practiced, it could have been a phenomenal presentation.

What are some good speech practice tips? After outlining/writing out my speech, here is what I have found helpful:

Practice your speech out loud

When I practice out loud, I think of new and better ways to same key points and punchlines. It makes my presentation 35% better. If possible do this several times.

Practice your speech early

Sleeping on our presentation after practice allows our subconscious mind to go to work. Pick up the speech again in a day or two and you will upgrade your content. This is one of the most powerful tips for creating compelling presentations.

Practice in the theater of your mind

Top speakers have shared with me that they will visualize the audience and then deliver the presentation in the theater of their mind. Not only is this good dress rehearsal but it will calm your nerves and help you deliver a good presentation

Visualize the stage and your audience. Go through the presentation in your mind. Visualize the response of the audience.

Practice while distracted

Mowing the lawn, cleaning, walking, jogging, etc are all great times to run through your presentation. This new practice venue will stretch your mind and help cement your content.

Practice by listening to your practice speech

This is recommended by Alan Wiess, the million dollar speaker. Record one of your practice speeches and then listen to it once or twice. You will be hearing how you sound to the audience. Tweak and keep practicing.

Practice all or parts of your speech in front of live audiences

If part of your speech flops, you want it to flop in front of a small practice group. Rehearse short segmants in your Toastmasters Club, in front of family members, or other opportunities. Its hard to beat live stage time.

Many speakers have the capacity to be a 5 star speaker. However, they are only three star because of lack practice. Don’t be one of them practice and rehearse your speech with these public speaking tips.

Remember,

Giving a speech without adequate practice is like taking bread out of the oven before it is fully cooked.

Arlen Busenitz

Arlen Busenitz is an experienced speaker with over 650 presentations. He is Author of several books, CD's,and creator of Become a Better Speaker in One Evening™

Website - More Posts