Episode #89: How To Rehearse Your Presentation

We have planned our talk, all we need do now is deliver it. We have designed it, starting with the key punch line we will deliver in the first close of the speech, before we get to the Q & A. This is the essence of our message and it is from this key idea that we have derived the key talking points we want to make, that will be the “chapters” of our speech. In a thirty minute speech we will probably get to three to four of these, depending on the amount of depth we need to get into. Finally, we develop the opening and then do the final close design for after the Q & A. With this outline, we start to see if this will work in reality.

We have fleshed out the construct, have inserted stories into the talk to back up key points and have a first draft. Now designing something on paper and then giving it out aloud are quite different beasts. We often find that when we run through the talk aloud, the logic of the order isn’t strong enough or the points seem a bit unclear. Unless there is some special reason to do so, we are not reading out the draft like a complete script.

We have sketched out speaking points, to which we will talk. These are the bare bones of the talk and this is what we use for the initial run through. When we do the speaking run through of the draft, we may find that additional or better points occur to us and this is when we do our editing. Some parts may be weak in promoting our argument, so we need to spend a bit more time bolstering those.

As we are not reading it, we will find that we will vary the content in the delivery every time we give it in rehearsal and probably in reality. Nothing at all wrong with that. Only we know what we are going to say, so there are no content police to catch us out on any variations from the original. It actually doesn’t matter too much, because invariably we are refining and further polishing the speech.

So naturally this means we are running though the actual talk a number of times. How many times? No one answer here, but I would reckon we are talking probably between three to five times. If we have a thirty minute talk we have clocked up two and a half hours in rehearsal time quite easily. Most busy businesspeople lack two and half hours for practice , so it is more likely to fall into the three times maximum category. Obviously the more often we give it before we bring it to an audience, the better but we have to be realistic about our time availability. The three times realty is vastly better than the usual occurrence, which is zero rehearsal.

As we are practicing and further polishing the construct, content and quality of the stories we are going to be using, we will get a better sense of how long all of this will take. The usual no practice version of public speaking leaves most people with absolutely no clue as to how long they will need for the talk. Most are more likely to overshoot than undershoot. When we go too long, we run into trouble with the constraints of the occasion. The organisers start subtly telling us to “get off”.

This practice run through is when we realize we have to prune our work of art and this is extremely difficult. Some parts may need to be dropped altogether – oh no! This can be painful because we love all of or children and can’t bear to lose any of them. Nevertheless, we have to be showing some tough love to our draft presentation, otherwise we can’t get it finished in the time allotted .

We don’t want to find ourselves in the position of having to shunt the end together in a whirlwind of download that baffles the audience and leaves everyone with the impression that we are so disorganized, we can't manage to put together a thirty minute talk.

If we have the time and resources, having others listen to our speech is good but this is often difficult. By the way, limit them to good/better feedback, because otherwise they will straight to negative critique and you won’t like that at all. If we can’t do that, then videoing the talk so we can see ourselves is very good. All you need is your phone or ipad and a holder thingy attached to a tripod and you are in business and no film crew required. If that can’t be done then use the voice memo on your phone to play back how it sounds.

When I am traveling to give talks, I find the Hotel room with the lights out allows the windows in the room to become a mirror and I can see myself pontificating, gesturing, pausing and delivering with aplomb.

Time is the killer when it comes to rehearsing. Remember the trade off though – 90 minutes of your time, versus eternal damnation as a hapless and hopeless presenter, who has just publically incinerated their personal and company brands.

Engaged employees are self-motivated. The self-motivated are inspired. Inspired staff grow your business but are you inspiring them? We teach leaders and organisations how to inspire their people. Want to know how we do that? Contact me at greg.story@dalecarnegie.com

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About The Author

Dr. Greg Story: President, Dale Carnegie Training Japan

Author of Japan Sales Mastery, the Amazon #1 Bestseller on selling in Japan and the first book on the subject in the last thirty years.

In the course of his career Dr. Greg Story has moved from the academic world, to consulting, investments, trade representation, international diplomacy, retail banking and people development. Growing up in Brisbane, Australia he never imagined he would have a Ph.D. in Japanese decision-making and become a 30 year veteran of Japan.

A committed lifelong learner, through his published articles in the American, British and European Chamber journals, his videos and podcasts “THE Leadership Japan Series”, "THE Sales Japan series", THE Presentations Japan Series", he is a thought leader in the four critical areas for business people: leadership, communication, sales and presentations. Dr. Story is a popular keynote speaker, executive coach and trainer.

Since 1971, he has been a disciple of traditional Shitoryu Karate and is currently a 6th Dan. Bunbu Ryodo (文武両道-both pen & sword) is his mantra and he applies martial art philosophies and strategies to business.