Preparing to speak
I am often asked - "Can you give me a few tips for a presentation that I have to make?"
Here are Wayne Botha's six top speaking tips.
1. Drink half a gallon of water each day in the three days leading up to your presentation. (Yes - drink water, not soda, tea nor Triple Caramel Vente decaf with extra milk). You can take water on stage with you, but it is the water in the days leading up to the presentation that lubricates your vocal cords.
2. Start your preparation early. Don't wait until the week before the presentation. Preparation takes longer than you think. Start to prepare as soon as you know you are going to speak. Preparing the night before you speak will show up the minute you realize your PowerPoint slides are on your other computer at home.
3. Rehearse your presentation, out loud, at least once before you go live. Use a stopwatch or clock to verify how much time your presentation will take. It may be way over time, way under time, or just on time. This knowledge is essential for you to know if you can expand on points while you are presenting.
4. Get exercise before your presentation. Either take a walk on the night before your presentation, or take a walk before you go on stage. Get oxygen into your system and take the time to clear your mind from irrelevant distractions.
5. Speak hungry. Do not start your presentation with a full bladder or full stomach. Either skip your meal, or eat light before you present. You cannot perform well on a full stomach. You can pig out after you wow the audience.
6. Get there early. If you have PowerPoint slides (Do I need to remind you that Murphy's law will be lurking?) test your equipment before you present because something will not work. The power cord is too short, the remote presenter batteries just died, the Mac's cable doesn't fit the projector cable. Who knows what else will go wrong. Get there early.
There you have it. Wayne Botha's six top tips to prepare for your next speech or presentation. Use these tips to have your audience beg for more.
Here are Wayne Botha's six top speaking tips.
1. Drink half a gallon of water each day in the three days leading up to your presentation. (Yes - drink water, not soda, tea nor Triple Caramel Vente decaf with extra milk). You can take water on stage with you, but it is the water in the days leading up to the presentation that lubricates your vocal cords.
2. Start your preparation early. Don't wait until the week before the presentation. Preparation takes longer than you think. Start to prepare as soon as you know you are going to speak. Preparing the night before you speak will show up the minute you realize your PowerPoint slides are on your other computer at home.
3. Rehearse your presentation, out loud, at least once before you go live. Use a stopwatch or clock to verify how much time your presentation will take. It may be way over time, way under time, or just on time. This knowledge is essential for you to know if you can expand on points while you are presenting.
4. Get exercise before your presentation. Either take a walk on the night before your presentation, or take a walk before you go on stage. Get oxygen into your system and take the time to clear your mind from irrelevant distractions.
5. Speak hungry. Do not start your presentation with a full bladder or full stomach. Either skip your meal, or eat light before you present. You cannot perform well on a full stomach. You can pig out after you wow the audience.
6. Get there early. If you have PowerPoint slides (Do I need to remind you that Murphy's law will be lurking?) test your equipment before you present because something will not work. The power cord is too short, the remote presenter batteries just died, the Mac's cable doesn't fit the projector cable. Who knows what else will go wrong. Get there early.
There you have it. Wayne Botha's six top tips to prepare for your next speech or presentation. Use these tips to have your audience beg for more.
Labels: Presentation Tips
posted by Wayne Botha @ 9:16 AM
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