How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. At least that’s how the familiar joke goes. And it’s not just for musicians – who do, in fact, practice their scales every day. Baseball players go to the batting cages. Painters do sketch after sketch before they start a work in earnest. Racecar drivers take practice laps.

Here’s where I hear you mumbling to yourself, “Yeh, but those are high level skills. We’re talking about…talking.  I do that every day.  Do I really need to practice that?” Yes. Really. 

Now you’re thinking, “But all the really great presenters are laid back…talking off the cuff.”

I agree…almost. The best speakers seem like they’re having a conversation just with you. Nothing stilted, very relaxed. Check out some these great speeches housed on one of my favorite websites, TED - Steve Jobs, former UCLA coach John Wooden, even Bono.   “They look like they’re making it up as they go along,” you say.   My response: that’s how you know they practiced.

 The most compelling speakers know that practice serves a valuable purpose on so many levels. Let’s take a look at some of them.

• Practice helps you test your material. Is it too long? Are your explanations clear? Are you getting to the point or rambling? Maybe you’ll change up some cold facts for an unforgettable story. Or see a place for a demonstration instead of a PowerPoint slide.
• Practice helps you know your material without memorizing it. Nothing makes listeners zone out more than what feels like a 10^th grade memorization exercise. When you see a great movie, the actors are living the lines, not reciting them. That applies to you, too.
• Practice puts you in control. If the projector fails, if your notes get out of order, if a marching band starts playing in the hallway…you’ll be able to stay focused because you know what you’re saying.
• Practice lets you “be yourself.” Do you sound like you’re reading a stilted, written document or having a conversation?  Practicing lets you relax, breathe deeply, keep your mind clear. Someone will ask a challenging question – and you won’t get ruffled. You’ll notice confusion on your audience’s faces, and you’ll brainstorm an idea on how to clarify it on the spot.  
• Practice lets you have a bigger idea. There’s a great video of Bobbie McFerrin (Composer and performer of Don’t Worry, Be Happy) on TED that illustrates how our mind thinks in music. He has the audience improvise a song with him instead of explaining the science. And it communicates so much more than the words of the panel of neuroscientists that share the stage with him.  

 How you get the most out of your practice?  Try this advice.

• Practice out loud. Really. Don’t just read over the text or review your notes. That’s cheating. Stand up, say it loud. There’s a great scene in the movie Elizabeth in which Cate Blanchett as the young British queen goes over and over a speech she’ll be giving to advisors who don’t think she’s capable of ruling. As she practices, she truly “finds her voice” – ways to persuade, disarm, amuse and captivate even her critics.
• Practice without looking at your slides. Don’t let them become a crutch. (In fact, we recommend you eliminate a lot of slides since they can become a distraction not an aid – check this blog entry from the archives.)
• Practice being imperfect. Get truly comfortable with your material, so a stumble or missed paragraph doesn’t become a disaster. You just walk your way through it.

 Looking for more ideas on great presentations?  Check out these tips from VoicePro’s workshops. 

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