D “Showed Up” for the Game, Match, or Meet? – NO WAY!
For many at that level, it had been eight hour days, six days a week, working out and practicing their sport – for years!
All serious athletes do the same: Practice – Practice – Practice.
What about serious musicians, singers, and actors? Does anyone think they merely “Show Up” for the big concert, show, or play? – NO WAY!
If you agree with the above, and I assume you do;
Why would anyone think they can “Show Up” to an event where they’re scheduled to speak, and “Wing It?”
If you’re speaking, you literally have the Platform for promoting Your Platform! All eyes and ears are on you! What a magnificent opportunity to ‘shine in the spotlight.’
There must be a reason you were given the opportunity to present to the audience. Grab that opportunity and make it pay off!
Promote your cause!
Promote yourself!
By having the opportunity to speak, you”ll be judged by the audience. You want to make a positive impression, don’t you?
That is unlikely unless you: Practice – Practice – Practice!
Practicing should include:
Reviewing, and revising, your Content.
Editing usually means less!
Check that you’re not using Buzz Words, Acronyms, or Techno-Speak.
Language the audience is not familiar with does not impress them. You’ll lose them if your words aren’t simple and easily understood.
Rehearsing your Opening and Closing so you don’t need to look at notes.
The Law of Primacy and Recency says the audience best remembers the first and last things they see and hear; more the last thing.
Practicing Out Loud.
Practicing in your “Mind’s Eye” only goes so far. You must hear yourself.
It’s not just what your say, but how you say it that conveys the meaning of your message you want the audience to understand.
Enunciation and Pronunciation, Projection, Inflection, Cadence, and Pausing are all Verbal Elements of Communication you must be aware of and Practice.
Practice Looking at a Mirror or into a Video Camera, where your performance can be reviewed.
Your NonVerbal Communication will trump what you say. Look at yourself as you present and adjust accordingly.
These include: Facial Expressions, Gestures, Posture, and Body Movements.
They must be in sync with your message, and can enhance your delivery.
Practice these and exaggerate if you’ll be speaking to a large audience.
Be aware!
All Gestures are not universal. The difference in meanings can be viewed as offensive by some attendees.
NonVerbal communication also has an involuntary component. The audience believes what the see!
Practice in Front of Friends and Family.
Encourage them to give you suggestions for improving your presentation.
Practice your Sticky Spots.
We tend to practice what we do well, and avoid the parts of our presentation we don’t excel in delivering. These could be super important to your message. They’re Sticky for a reason; poor use of words, structure, or ?
Fix them!
Rewrite if necessary.
Change specific words to make it easier to say.
Practice till it’s done right!
Steve Jobs was one of the best presenters ever! If he was scheduled to give a Keynote Presentation on a new Apple product or service, he would practice for Weeks! This man was the Best, but he still knew the great value of Practicing.
Follow Steve Job’s example of Practicing ad nauseam and your next presentation will be – NO SWEAT!
For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you Two FREE Gifts: An Elevator Speech Template and an Elevator Speech Worksheet. (Who hasn’t struggled with their Elevator Speech!)
Go to: https://nosweatpublicspeaking.com/elevator-speech-template to receive it! (You may be asked to update your profile even if it hasn’t changed. Please do!)
About the Author Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and the author of the book, “No Sweat Public Speaking!” Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their Public Speaking and Presentation Skills. They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts. Perception is reality, and we rather deal with Experts.
They also know: Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities. Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities. Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities.
He shows them how to: Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with – NO SWEAT!
Fred E. Miller Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com nosweatpublicspeaking.com 314-517-8772
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