Tips on Making Presentations / Rehearsal

Rehearsal will give you self confidence and it will also free you up to focus on the audience.

Verbal:

• Practice out loud!
• It’s not enough to go over your presentation in your head: You never stumble on your words or speak a confusing sentence there!
  
• Rehearsing out loud allows you to preview how you will sound to your audience.
  
• Your aim is to familiarize yourself with your presentation…not memorize it.
  
• Reduce your notes to bullets/key phrases that you can speak to and then rehearse from these bullets.
  
• Know your openings, transitions, and closings.
  
• Audio or videotape your presentation and listen to/watch yourself.
  
• Deliver your presentation to a colleague and ask for honest feedback.

Physical:

• Rehearse with presentation props (PowerPoint, hand held mic).
  
• Go and look at the space you will present in.
  
• Rehearse in the presentation location, if possible.

Mental:

• Use positive self-talk and tell yourself how well your presentation will go.
  
• Allow your subconscious to get into the act by visualizing yourself delivering a spectacular presentation.