| For many people giving a speech causes them to | | | | Write down everything, even your jokes, antidotes |
| turn tail and run or break out in a cold sweat. They | | | | and examples. |
| would rather die than walk up to a podium and talk. | | | | *Read aloud what you have written. Re-write and |
| This phenomenon is actually documented. When | | | | re-write to make the speech conversational. Re-write |
| people are asked what their number one fear is, an | | | | to make sure the speech fits in the time allotted. |
| astounding majority say speaking before groups. | | | | Add and remove portions. |
| Death comes in second. | | | | *Now that you have your speech written exactly as |
| So, why in the world would anyone want to give a | | | | you want it, read it aloud five times in a row. After |
| speech without notes? After all aren't our notes | | | | each reading, lift your eyes from the page between |
| there to help guide us through the speech? Aren't | | | | paragraphs. Before you look down, try and think |
| they there to keep us from forgetting what we | | | | about what comes next, paragraph by paragraph (or |
| intended to say? Aren't they there to prevent that | | | | section by section). |
| ever-fearful event: our minds going blank? | | | | *By the fifth reading you are ready to take your |
| My answer to these questions is a resounding no! | | | | speech off the written page and put it on note |
| When you depend too much on your notes you are | | | | cards. You will put words or sentences on the note |
| putting your brain on cruise control. As the pilot of | | | | cards that will transition you to the next part. These |
| your speech, imagine if your notes suddenly flew | | | | are the stumbling places you noted while you were |
| across the room and all your papers scattered into | | | | reading. |
| the wind. What would you do? Pilots depend on their | | | | Example |
| co-pilot to take over. You don't have a co-pilot. You | | | | You are reading: "My biggest fear in making |
| must depend on your brain. | | | | presentations is that I will lose my place and forget |
| The purpose of this paper is to give you some tips | | | | what I am about to say. One of the tricks I use to |
| to train your brain to work for you. The goal is to | | | | make sure I will remember is. . ." |
| free yourself from dependency on your notes. When | | | | Oops you forgot what comes next. You look down |
| the wind blows and your notes fly away (or your | | | | on your notes and see "to prepare a PowerPoint |
| computer crashes the night before your | | | | slide." |
| presentation), do not panic. Instead, toss your head | | | | You will write PowerPoint on your note card. |
| back with confidence and say, "It's ok. I can deliver | | | | *Now that you have your speech on your note |
| this speech blindfolded." | | | | cards in bullets, practice your speech with your cards |
| How Do You Do It? How Do You Train Your Brain | | | | 5 times over two days. This time you don't want to |
| and Rid Yourself of Those Pesky Notes? | | | | practice too many times in a row. You want your |
| First of all, you don't have to be completely | | | | brain to expand. This practice process isn't just about |
| note-free. You can take your notes to the podium as | | | | memorization. It's about putting your brain to |
| you usually do. You can place them on the table | | | | work--teaching it to expand with you. Notice after |
| before you as always. What will be different this | | | | each practice how often you have to look down on |
| time is that you will never look at them! You have | | | | your cards. Notice if you add some content or a new |
| them there, just in case. But as your confidence | | | | story. If so, jot those things down on your cards, |
| grows with working without notes, you will suddenly | | | | rework your cards and start over. |
| notice, you don't need them anymore. I have | | | | *After the fifth practice, you are now ready to |
| reached a point where my notes have been dwindled | | | | abandon the note cards. Practice your speech in the |
| down to a single note-card (and this is for a 30 | | | | shower. Practice while walking your dog. Practice |
| minute presentation), which I place in the pocket of | | | | while driving your car. Practice your speech at least |
| my jacket. I never pull it out. | | | | 10 times in places where notes are impossible. Pay |
| How do you think the great musicians play without | | | | attention to the spots where you stumble or forget |
| music? How do they reach a point in their careers | | | | what is next. For example, if you are practicing in the |
| when they can perform a 10 to 12 page piece | | | | shower and you are mid-way through your speech |
| without a single sheet of music in front of them? | | | | and can't quite remember the next part, that is |
| You know the answer to this question. Practice! | | | | perfectly fine. As soon as you come out of the |
| Practice! Practice! | | | | shower, go find your notes. When you see what |
| Preparing for your presentation requires diligent and | | | | jogs your memory, you are off and running again. |
| planned practice. I heard someone say once, "If you | | | | The next time, in the shower or in the car, you will |
| aren't prepared, you ought to be scared." Yes, | | | | remember that part and go on. I suggest at least 10 |
| practice will make perfect and practice will enable you | | | | practices before your presentation. But once you are |
| to toss your notes to the wind. | | | | giving your speech with ease and your notes are |
| Believe it or not there are some people who are so | | | | clearly in your head, you are ready (even if you only |
| frightened by speaking they do not want to think | | | | practiced like this 4 or 5 times). |
| about it. They postpone working on their speech or | | | | If you prepare and practice and leave your notes on |
| presentation because the thought of it terrifies them. | | | | the podium or in your pocket, you will discover that |
| These people shun practice out of fear and thereby | | | | speech making is actually fun. Your brain loves the |
| assure themselves that their worst fear comes true. | | | | exercise and you will know that no matter what |
| If you are not willing, or unable to practice, you had | | | | happens to that little note card, you will successfully |
| better not walk up to that podium. Your notes will | | | | deliver your speech. Nothing will stop you now! |
| not help you. Nothing will. | | | | Imagine how impressed your audience will be! How |
| How Do You Practice? | | | | did she do it and without notes? Only your dog |
| *Decide what you are going to say and write it out. | | | | knows your secret! |