Just Play The Tips
I’ve been meaning to compile my best tips for a while, and today is the day. Make sure to print or bookmark this post so that you can access it every time you have to give a speech or a presentation, or have a difficult or stressful conversation ahead of you.
And remember that it’s always good to have a coach our an outside eye to guide you when you want to give a really solid presentation or speech. :)
OK, here we go:
Make sure you’ve downloaded and looked over my free public speaking guide. That document covers my main speaking system, and in my opinion, is an excellent resource for anybody who has to give a speech or presentation, or has a hard time speaking because of shyness, anxiety or fear.
Always write out your speech in its entirety ahead of time, and use text mapping to mark it up. Whether you memorize it or bring your speech with you, writing it out in exactly the words you want to use means that you’re not wasting anyone’s time as you “search for the right word” in the moment.
Use controlled breathing to get calm and focused right before your presentation. Find a bathroom stall and get yourself into the right physical and mental state so that you can show up as your best self.
The night before, prepare a bag with everything you’ll need: a printed copy and a USB of your speech and/or PowerPoint; pen; notebook; water bottle (filled); slippery elm and zinc lozenges (the last thing you want to do is get a raspy voice before going on); toothbrush/toothpaste/dental floss; phone charger. Put a sticky note on your front door that says “don’t forget your bag”, or even further, put your bag right into your car.
If you’re giving a presentation and don’t have water, lightly chew on the sides of your tongue. This stimulates your saliva glands because your body thinks you’re chewing something, and can help make the different between a completely dry throat, and getting by until you can find some water. (But you probably already have water if you’ve done the tip before this one!)
Record your presentation onto your computer or phone and share it with people who can give you good feedback. Listen to their feedback and make improvements.
Avoid dairy or alcohol before going on. Dairy can exacerbate mucous production (especially if you’re already sick) and can make you feel bloated, and alcohol will dry out your throat and can also get you off your game. (Grabbing a beer or hitting the sundae bar afterwards, however, is usually pretty satisfying!)
Practise. Don’t skip out on this part. I don’t buy the phrase “over rehearsed”. If you go to present and feel like you sound like a robot, you still have some practising to do to get past that stage. At some point, the words really sink in to your body, and you’re able to perform that speech with all of the nuance and charisma that you’ve been working toward. If you’re resisting practising your speech (if you find yourself suddenly really interested in cleaning out that messy cupboard, or vacuuming the oven) do some mindset work about how you want this presentation to go. Imagine yourself doing an incredible job. And then work toward that.
Practise in the clothes you’re going to wear, including the shoes, and with your hair the way you want to wear it that day. You don’t want to show up realizing that you can’t walk in those shoes, or that your suit jacket has shrunk (maybe it’s the Junior Mint obsession?), or that your hair flies into your face constantly in a particular style.
The two magic items that you should always have: zinc and slippery elm lozenges. If you have allergies, if you have a cold, if there is going to be AC at the venue, if you have to travel in a car/bus to get there, you’ll want to use these in tandem to make sure your voice is in its best place. Zinc reduces inflammation and slippery elm protects your thoat. ** never use Zinc on an empty stomach, and always read the labels before taking anything.
Avoid clearing your throat as it causes friction and can contribute to losing your voice in extreme cases. If you need to, just cough (it’s less harmful).
Practise the 4 elements of excellent speaking whenever you can: standing, breathing, speaking and reading.
There you have it! Got any good tips that I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments below.
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