Preparing for Delivery

Many individuals like to memorize their presentations word for word and present it to their audience with no ad-libbing or improvising. This technique works well for some people, but the first-time speaker often has enough on his mind without having to worry that his memory might fail him. If you do choose to take this route, try to make it seem more natural and less like a robot repeating data and statistics. Many audiences find “off-the-cuff” presentations more enjoyable because they are often, by nature, more interesting.

Ideally, you will have plenty of time to prepare your speech. However, sometimes this is not the case. Either way, it is important to spend as much time as possible getting ready to speak. This means creating and organizing any presentation visuals-if you choose to use them-researching and developing your topic, and lots of practicing.

Practice can make or break you. Many times, no matter how much time you have to prepare, you will find that you can never get enough practice “giving your speech” before you actually have to give your speech.

There are several ways you can practice. If possible, take the opportunity to practice in front of live bodies. This is probably the best way to prepare because it helps you to get accustomed to speaking for real people. You’ll get used to speaking with other people in the room and your practice audience can give you useful feedback that may help you when you make your actual presentation.

Another way to practice is to practice aloud or in front of a mirror by yourself. While you do not have the benefit of feedback, you will be better prepared for the length of your presentation and if you have practiced enough, you’ll sound much more natural and at ease during your real presentation.