A Major Presentation Mistake to Avoid

“Knock, and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened!” That was the last line I said to the audience before my mind went blank.

I was calm on the outside.  Inside, however, I was frantically knocking on various doors hoping that the memory of what I was to say next would come to me. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, like the momentary warm flash of soft yellow light from a lightning bug, an idea flashed in my mind.  It was the thought of the next portion of my speech! (Yea!)

I watched a recording of that speech.  There were seven full seconds of silence between when I forgot my next line and when I started speaking again. Seven seconds of silence.  Seven seconds during which I probably aged seven years.

The takeaway lesson learned from this little episode is: Have your talk memorized several days before you deliver it!

My major stress-inducing mistake was that I had created my talk in the two days before I was to give it. With my wife’s help, I had settled on what to say in the talk only an hour and a half before I had to deliver it! I had then rehearsed the talk as many times as I could (2 or 3 times) before I gave it. I’m embarrassed to admit that.

Please tuck this takeaway into your mental file folder: Be settled on your speech, presentation, or talk at least two days before you deliver it. A week before would be even better. In the final days before your talk, rehearse to further solidify the presentation in your mind and to iron out any wrinkles. This will help your confidence and the smoothness of your delivery when you actually give the talk. It will help you deliver the talk like a champ!

The next educational article will focus on exactly how you can remember your talks. Look for it in the “Education” section.