How to Rehearse for a Big Presentation

If you want to create a high impact presentation, rehearsal is crucial, but memorization is not the answer. 

Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Harvard professor Carmine Gallo says, “The best speakers make presentations look effortless, precisely because they put so much effort into perfecting their delivery.” He offers guidelines for getting the most out of rehearsal time.  Here are 5 key practices. 

• Commit to improvement:  For exponential improvement, commit to rehearsing far more than ever before.  Repeating the first few minutes of your introduction as you drive or walk counts toward your goal. If there’s an especially complex or technical section of the presentation, spend more time practicing those.
• Start as strong as you end:  The two most important parts of your presentation are the beginning and end. The intro sets the stage and gives your audience a reason to care. Your conclusion determines what content people will walk away with, and how they will feel overall. So nail down the first two minutes and last two minutes of your presentation. Spontaneity can live in the middle.
• Practice under mild stress: Researchers agree the best way to deliver an outstanding presentation is to practice under stress. In her book Choke, Sian Beilock examined individuals who perform best when it counts most. “Even practicing under mild levels of stress can prevent you from choking when high levels of stress come around,” she writes.  Become accustomed to being in front of an audience, even if it’s just one or two people.
• Record your Rehearsal:  Audio only goes so far, so be sure to do some video recordings on your phone. Notice where you might be fidgeting or fumbling words and give those spots extra attention. 
• Ask for feedback: Preview your presentation in front of colleagues who will give you honest and constructive feedback.

How have you rehearsed for important presentations? To join the conversation, click "comments" on comments above.  We'd love to hear your feedback!

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