Have you ever sat through a presentation where the presenter stumbled and struggled? What do you remember? Very likely, you recall the “ums” and “uhs.” You remember him reading off the slide in a monotone or being befuddled by a straightforward question. What we usually remember from a badly delivered presentation is the poor presenter. We cringed inside. We felt sorry for him.
This almost always happens because of inadequate rehearsal. I’ve worked with leaders who will spend hours and hours creating their content and then spend 30 minutes rehearsing. And their definition of rehearsal is simply thinking through what they’re going to say. It usually doesn’t turn out well.
Your delivery is the single most important factor in the success of a presentation. Great content is ruined by poor delivery. Conversely, a well-prepared presenter can make mediocre content come to life, engage her audience and be persuasive.
Let me share with you what I share with my clients when it comes to great delivery.
The Ratio of 4:1
That’s the ratio I recommend on rehearsal compared to presentation length. If you’re scheduled for a 30-minute presentation, spend at least two hours rehearsing. Even more if you’re presenting to the CEO or an important customer. And do those rehearsals…
Out Loud
Rehearsing out loud does two very important things for you. First, it tells you how long the presentation is. Research shows we think roughly five times faster than we talk. Presenters who only think through their presentations often find themselves only halfway through with time running out. Get out your stopwatch and time yourself.
Rehearsing out loud also lets you hear how it sounds. Everything sounds great in our minds. Then we say it in front of an audience and it doesn’t come out as elegantly as we thought. Rehearsing out loud tells you if phrases or transitions sound clunky or inarticulate. Plus, practicing out loud better embeds what you’re going to say in your brain so it’s easier to retrieve.
Trusted Feedback
Rehearse with someone you trust who will give you candid, constructive feedback. They will tell you what’s good that you can accentuate and what needs improvement.
Rehearse Questions
Unless you’re doing a keynote in front of a large audience, you’re likely to get questions. In fact, Q&A is a valuable tool to keep your audience engaged. Identify and think about questions you’re likely to get. Come up with good, solid answers to those questions. And rehearse those too. Again, by saying your answers out loud, it’s much, much easier to retrieve them in the moment.
As I say to my clients, the success or failure of your presentation depends entirely on your ability to deliver it. Rehearsal leads to stronger clarity, confidence and presence.