Presentation Skills: Before the Speech

In the days before a speech:

• Practice to boost your confidence. Treat speaking like learning to hit a golf ball or play the piano.
• Videotape your practice sessions so you know what works and what doesn't.
• Learn to project your voice and your presence. Own the room. You can use your car to start, then move on to an empty church or auditorium for trial runs.

In the minutes before a speech:

• Don't eat bananas before a speech. Seriously. Like with dairy products, you'll feel the need to clear your throat. Again and again.
• Drink room-temperature water with lemon to avoid dry mouth. Ice water constricts your vocal cords.

During a speech:

• Make eye contact with people in each part of the room. Look at one person for three seconds, then move on to another. Remember to smile.
• Don't read your presentation or clutch the podium. In fact, stay away from the podium unless you need a sip of water.
• If you do have dry mouth, don’t hesitate to take a sip. The audience will understand. Ask a question to cover the pause or use the pause to dramatize a point. Some speakers take a sip even when they don’t need to because it is such a handy device.

It's OK to feel nervous, just re-define it as excitement or anticipation. It is energy, use it. You might be aware of it but the audience won't notice. Unless you aren’t nervous at all. Then you will be flat and boring, and the audience will certainly notice that.