Executive Presentations: How do you Rehearse?

How do you rehearse for important presentations…?

In a recent executive presentation skills session, everyone agreed that rehearsal is crucial. No surprise there.  What was surprising though was a lack of answers and clarity around how people rehearse. Most responses were along the lines of:

I think about what I want to say or I run it through in my head.

Here’s the thing -Clarity doesn’t come from thinking -it comes from action. You can imagine going to the gmyn or playing a piece on the piano but unless you actually lift the weights or press those piano keys you’ll never get stronger or better. The same applies to your presentations.  

So what’s a better way to rehearse?

Make it real!

Re-create THE environment that mirrors the one in which you’ll be presenting. If it’s an online presentation then practice online.

If you are presenting in meeting room 302 then go to meeting room there and practice. Also you need to speak out loud when rehearsing.

Why?

Speaking out loud activates different areas of the brain compared to silent rehearsal. It strengthens  memory, boosts confidence gives you auditory feedback to refine your delivery.

Here’s a question for you to reflect on.. when was the last time you rehearsed your presentation out loud? And if you did, what unexpected insights or improvements did you discover?