Noreen Bayouk
Many people have heard the saying “practice makes perfect,” but how does this phrase directly apply to public speaking? Sure, someone can reread their written speech and call that practice, but is this really the most effective way to practice a speech?
There are so many ways to practice a speech, but here are a few effective ones that have been proven through my experience as a public speaker and speech consultant. It’s best if these tips are used in order.
Tip #1: Get to Know Your Speech
Before practicing a speech, it is important to first read it through a couple of times. This will set you up for success, since you’ll be practicing what you originally wrote and intend to say.
Although reading speeches during a performance is not ideal, it is a great method to use before trying other ways to practice. Therefore, this method should not be the only one used. This process also helps you start creating a manuscript that is helpful and concise. Eventually, it’s important to be able to perform a speech without often looking at your manuscript.
The goal, however, is not to memorize the speech, but to be familiar enough with it that it sounds natural when performed. This can be done through a method I created to practice my speeches. Start by reading and saying one sentence at a time. Then, after successfully saying a sentence without getting stuck, add another sentence. Once successful, combine the new sentence with the first so you can become familiar with the speech as a whole—not just sentence by sentence. If the arrangement of the speech is done well, it will help ease this familiarization process, because each idea in a sentence flows into the next.
My method greatly supported my speedy familiarization and unintentional memorization of my speech. I knew my speech well in less than an hour. This method also helped me edit my manuscript so it was useful for me. After getting stuck on a certain phrase, I would add that phrase—or one word from that phrase—onto my manuscript to remind myself of my place and next words in my speech.
Tip #2: Be Your Own Critic
Next, it is crucial to record and rewatch speeches. Although this might feel weird, it is one of the most beneficial tips I offer to all the students I coach. I especially recommend recording practice speeches when using my method described previously.
From personal experience, I greatly benefited from rewatching my speeches and editing them after viewing. Since I wrote the speech, if something I should understand doesn’t make sense to me, then it most likely won’t make sense to someone else listening. I practiced often in the Center for Speech and Debate, and I always rewatched my speeches. Not only was I listening to the words I was saying, but I was also watching my actions. Since I know I don’t always notice my gestures and movement when performing, I was sure to be aware of my delivery when rewatching. Plus, I could look at the consultant’s feedback and notice exactly what I said that needed to be fixed for the next run-through. This ensured that I didn’t forget to fix anything.
Tip #3: Feel Comfortable with Your Audience
Nerves are common in public speaking. Therefore, a person should first be comfortable performing with nerves by themselves before getting practice with a larger group. What specifically should someone do to practice a speech alone? Actually perform the speech just like they would in front of an audience. Use the same pacing and gestures you would use during a real performance.
When practicing alone, if talking to a laptop feels awkward, instead perform in front of a mirror or open the camera app on your phone. After doing this a few times, perform in front of a small group of people you normally converse with and feel comfortable around. This may be family or a few friends.
The night before I had to perform my speeches, I practiced once in front of my family. Especially since my brother is noisy and can’t sit still, it was beneficial to perform in a distracting environment to prepare me for the actual speech.
It may be difficult to stay serious when performing in front of a group you’re comfortable with, but this is a super beneficial practice. It’s good to keep in mind that how you practice is how you will perform. So as difficult as it may be, take this practice run seriously. Also, it will point out any awkward phrases or spots you still don’t know and need to keep practicing. These tricky areas can be added to the manuscript to cater to your specific needs.
Tip #4: Feel Comfortable with Your Stage
On the day of the speech, it is important to feel as comfortable as possible within the space where you’ll be speaking. If possible, I highly recommend arriving early. If the place is empty, stand on the stage and give your speech to normalize the feeling of speaking in a large space.
As a commuter, I was always early to class, so I did practice runs in the empty classroom before my speeches. I really think I benefited from this because when I actually performed my speech, I felt like I had already given it. Also, this helped me ease my nerves. By using my resources (an empty classroom in my case) to my advantage, I was able to relax and feel more confident before performing in front of a group.