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.