The top benefit of working with an executive Coach: Practice!
Who’s your favorite performer, of any stripe?
This could be an athlete, singer, dancer, actor, musician, band, busker, barista, bartender, speaker, politician, preacher, reverend, comedian, storyteller, or improviser.
What’s it like when you see them do their thing? More often than not, it’s great, right?
How did your favorite [whatever] get to be so fabulous at what they do?
Practice.
And you’re probably thinking, ‘Yeah, no s*** Marianna,” but hang with me for a sec.
Here’s the thing about performers, people we pay to see do that thing they do so well: we don’t see them practice. We just expect them to be excellent. And what we see in public is the result of a lot of practice.
Performers are expected to practice, practice, practice, and then when they perform - before their adoring public - we go, “Yay!” and they get paid. (Except improvisers and comedians at open mics. That’s another blog post.)
But in corporate America? We don’t give anyone time and/or space to practice. We don’t even give them a bench to rest on between plays! (Um, presentations.) We’re supposed to work 40+ hours, produce, and be excellent, with barely any breathing room, let alone space to rehearse a presentation.
Never confuse knowledge with preparation.
And never confuse preparation with practice.
Keep reading for my easy practice method.
So build time in to PRACTICE before you present. Or invest in a coach to give you valuable feedback and the time and space to rehearse and refine your presentation.
Book a conference room for yourself -
and no one else
Yes, you can rehearse solo. I recommend it.
I practice on Zoom solo all the time!
Before any presentation, workshop, or keynote - at least a week before - I book a conference room for just me.
I go in with my slides, props, handouts, etc. And I deliver the presentation rapidly and out loud.
The benefits:
I get to hear when something is repetitive, or I use the wrong word, or one part of my talk needs to go into a different place. Our brains process sound differently than sight, so reading my presentation will not give me this gift.
Muscle memory! You athletes and fitness fans will appreciate this: you’re getting the presentation into your body and mind. This will prepare you even more for the day of delivery.
It allows me to catch things I’ve missed. All of my workshops are interactive, so running through them verbally allows me to see when we need a break, if an activity should go somewhere else, or if I simply forgot to call out the activity or exercise.
PS - You can also do this at HOME. If you do, it’s the same concept: Go into a closed, quiet room, solo, and make sure you have uninterrupted time. Then run that puppy quickly.
What to read or hear next:
My talk with Randy Ford on “How to Write a Better Bio”
Is it okay to drink before I give a toast? 2-minute Voice Memos
For Women Only: Three Speaking Tips
About The Author
Hi! I’m Marianna. I can help you rock your next presentation. And yes, I’ll give you LOTS of practice and feedback. I have coaching on demand available!
I make public speaking easier (and fun!) for my clients. In addition to Presentation Skills workshops, I offer executive coaching and Keynote speeches. To learn more, schedule a call with me.