Tips on Public Speaking: Practice

I just got off of two plane rides, two TSA searches, baggage claim and a bumpy taxi ride to get to my hotel. Tomorrow I am giving a seminar, “Coaching and Mentoring Skills for Leadership Success,” on behalf of National Seminars to mid to senior level managers… and even though I went through all that to get to my destination – when I finally settled into my hotel room… I practiced. And this is the tip on public speaking that is going to bring your speaking to the next level.

I practiced my seminar. Even though I have been giving this seminar for over two years throughout the United States… I am still practicing it. I go over my notes, my PowerPoint and I even have the hotel open up my meeting room so that I can “walk the stage” and make sure the room is conducive to learning and selling.

I am not a big believer in “winging it.” Sure you may know your topic, your product or service. Heck you may have been doing the same thing for over twenty years – I am going to urge you to PRACTICE. Go over your notes. The reason: because that is what we owe our audience. We owe it to them to come across professional and prepared.

We want to make sure we are prepared to give the best presentation so we can be informative, fun and be clear on our call to action. So many mediocre speakers forget to do that third item = call to action. In my Presentation Template Intensive, I have my audience answer the question: what exactly do you want your audience to do at the end of your speech?

Whether you want them to walk away with a new habit, a policy or procedure or you have a product or service you want your audience to invest in… you have to be clear on your call to action. Practice is the best way to get the results that you want.

I go over my notes as they relate to the PowerPoint. I get a clear image of how I will present, what my tone of voice and body language will be. I go over the entire presentation so that my audience gets the best experience.

What is your message? What is your call to action? Leave a comment – I would love to know.

Grazie, Maurice