Want to inspire yourself to better performances as a public speaker? Here's the right way to practice a presentation! 

Is going through a presentation the way it's always been done at your company or in your industry the right way to practice?

Or is it better to try something new and shake up the audience a little?

Well, the answer is yes.

Read Chapter 5, "Delivering Your Messages Successfully," in my book, How to Give a Speech. Also on Amazon. Learn 101 ways to improve your speeches and presentations! 

What's Your Objective? (And What Is the Risk?)

All public speaking is situational—meaning it all depends upon the occasion and your objective as speaker. A big part of the equation has to do with your audience. For instance, speaking to your team at a weekly status conference is very different from delivering a keynote to an audience of strangers at a national conference.

Want to speak to be heard? Then keep your voice in top shape. Download my Free cheat sheet, "Public Speaking? 15 Easy Ways to Keep Your Voice Healthy." Gain vocal power!

You'd probably be more inclined to experiment with people you know than when you're in the national spotlight in your industry. And you'd most likely be right to think that way. Technical considerations can also come into play: the more complicated your set-up and digital solution, the more likely something could go wrong at a critical moment. On the other hand, surprising your audience—and even confounding expectations—can help you stand out in your field. 

In one sense, it comes down to your comfort level with risk, which makes it like investing. Do you gravitate toward high-yield (and therefore risky) international stocks; or are you a government bonds type of investor for whom steady-and-safe is more of the mantra? Of course, you may not be at either extreme but are willing to take reasonable risks—and the same can be said of the way you put together and practice your presentations. 

What about using PowerPoint? Here's how to create engaging not lackluster presentations: my Free cheat sheet, "5 Rules for Succeeding with PowerPoint." Download it now!

Do It Like This: Right Way — Wrong Way — Right Way

Whatever approach you use to gratify (or shake up and then gratify) listeners, you can benefit from this simple practice technique:

Do it the right way — then the wrong way — then the right way again.

These terms can mean whatever you decide they should mean. For instance, if your presentation calls for advocating strongly for your position, then make sure you know what you need to look like and how to sound credible and persuasive. (What I'm talking about is nonverbal communication: body language, facial expression, eye contact, and vocal expressiveness.) Or if you really want to show this audience that you empathize with their position, then you need to practice sounding that way in your presentation.

Then do it again, this time taking the "wrong" approach. In the above two examples, the second time you go through your advocacy speech, you would purposefully not look and sound forceful enough, or use wishy-washy language instead of powerful words. And in the empathetic speech, you'd practice it without that quality. Then, once more, do your speech the "right" way.

And here's the other side of the coin, from my Free Tips and Tricks Guide, Too Emotional? How to Handle Yourself in An Argument. Get the balance right between emotion vs. data!

This accomplishes two things: (1) you remind yourself, and perform your speech the way you reasonably know will succeed. And (2) you visualize and practice a successful approach, and carry that in your head from this point on.

Whatever you do, don't take the path of speakers who tell themselves they know so much about this topic, that they don't need to practice—they could talk about it forever. Their actual speeches will most likely end up all over the place in terms of focus and conciseness. They'll be right about one thing, though: to the audience, it will seem like they're talking forever.

Want to reduce your anxiety while letting go of your fears and negative thinking? Get my latest book for business speakers, The Confidence Book. Stand out in your profession!

Perform at your professional best!

You should follow me on Twitter/X here.

Gary Genard is an actor, author, and expert in public speaking and overcoming speaking fear. His company, The Genard Method offers live 1:1 Zoom executive coaching and corporate group training worldwide. He is the author of the Amazon Best-Seller How to Give a Speech. His second book, Fearless Speaking, was named in 2019 as “One of the 100 Best Confidence Books of All Time.” For nine consecutive years, he was ranked by Global Gurus as one of The World’s Top 30 Communication Professionals, and he has been named as one of America's Top 5 Speech Coaches. His handbook for presenting in videoconferences, Speaking Virtually offers techniques for developing virtual presence. He is also the author of Speak for Leadership: An Executive Speech Coach's Secrets for Developing Leadership Presence. His latest book is The Confidence Book: 75 Ways to Reduce Your Anxiety, Let Go of Your Fears, Change Your Negative Thinking, and Perform At Your Professional Best. He is also the creator of The Dr. William Scarlet psychic mysteries. Contact Gary here.

Image credit: Mohamed_hassan on pixabay.com