Planning and
practice are crucial to the success of your presentation, particularly if
you’ve presenting on a new topic, in a new environment or in front of a new
audience, or if the situation is high-stakes and high-impact.
Here are some guidelines for what and how to practice:
Practice the building blocks
Focus on your opening, conclusion and the transitions from one section to the next. These are the building blocks of your presentation and if you are confident about them, it will be easier to deliver the rest of the presentation. And you will use fewer pause words like “um” and “ah” to get from one section to another.
One of the worst mistakes a presenter can make is to go over the time limit, or said another way, to deliver an incomplete presentation because you ran out of time. Time your presentation so you get an average for how long it takes to deliver. And if it’s too long, cut out content.
Do a dress rehearsal
Here are some guidelines for what and how to practice:
Practice the building blocks
Focus on your opening, conclusion and the transitions from one section to the next. These are the building blocks of your presentation and if you are confident about them, it will be easier to deliver the rest of the presentation. And you will use fewer pause words like “um” and “ah” to get from one section to another.
Practice is not about memorization
You’re not
practicing to memorize word for word what you’re going to say. Memorizing can
be disastrous because during the live presentation, you will be in your head
trying to remember what comes next rather than in the moment engaging the
audience. Practice to become comfortable enough with the information so that
you can say it a variety of different ways with the same meaning.One of the worst mistakes a presenter can make is to go over the time limit, or said another way, to deliver an incomplete presentation because you ran out of time. Time your presentation so you get an average for how long it takes to deliver. And if it’s too long, cut out content.
Do a dress rehearsal
If you can’t
do your dress rehearsal in the actual room you will present in, practice in as
close to the real environment as possible.
Figure out where you will stand or sit and how the slides will look from
the audience’s point of view. Understand
the lighting and the sound.
A dress
rehearsal is also important if there are new elements such as:
- New content that you’re just getting familiar with
- Using a microphone or PowerPoint remote for the
first time
- A larger room than you’re used to
- A more senior audience than usual
- New technology such as live streaming or video
conferencing
- Having to dress in more formal clothes, such as a
suit
Now you might
say, “My presentation is 45 minutes. I’m
not going to stand up and do a 45-minute dress rehearsal.” If the presentation is important enough
(high-stakes with potential for a big positive – or negative – impact on your
job and career) and you are motivated, yes, I think a full 45-minute dress
rehearsal would be very helpful.
And with each
presentation you prepare for and give, you will get more comfortable with your
content and the room environment, and require less practice time.
Yes, it takes
time to practice, but it’s time well spent.
The more time you spend upfront on your practice, the more you will be
able to deliver your presentation with confidence and clarity. You’ll be able to focus on connecting with
the audience rather than worrying about what could go wrong or a logistical
detail such as how to use the microphone.