Practice for your presentation…without a stage, mic or lights

With public speaking, we have a big problem.

We want to be ready for the big speech, media interview, client pitch...but it's almost impossible to practice for it.

Most performances, presentations and interviews happen in a specialized environment (like a TV studio, a conference centre or an assembly hall.)

They’ve got lights.

Microphones.

Cameras. A stage. And a big audience waiting to hear from you.

So...how can we build real skills when we don’t have our own arena to rehearse in?

How can we build public speaking skills…without a stage?

The solution? You need to “practice now”.

When I worked as a media spokesperson, I faced a line-up of non-stop national TV interviews over several weeks, and I was terrified. I had zero idea how to improve my skills, and I knew I had to level up my game immediately.

And that’s when I realized I needed to practice as if I was ALREADY on stage. And “practice now” was my solution.

I started prepping by doing everything I could to replicate the experience as closely as possible. Every single day was my opportunity to rehearse and share my message. Even if my audience was just the cactus in my living room, I needed to do my part and learn the tricks for speaking in front of an audience.

Little by little, I started making progress. By “practicing now” and pushing my rehearsal sessions to feel more like the real thing, I learned how to focus my message for each interview, troubleshoot through tough questions, and polish my responses. 

Even better, I started to learn how to manage my nerves.

Make it real

To boost the “practice now” technique, push yourself as you really are at the TV studio, the conference or the pitch meeting.

The goal is to elevate your stress incrementally, so you can actively practice managing your nerves in a “real” situation.

Take advantage of your brain’s immense capacity for imaginative leaps, and imagine that you are really on stage. Set timers, turn on bright lights, and get an audience (friends, family, co-workers). It sounds incredibly simplistic, but it makes a BIG difference.

When you “make it real” with timers, lights, and some people watching, you will feel a spike of nerves and the pressure to perform. And that’s exactly the practice you need to get accustomed to the stress of speaking in public.

By speaking out loud, you get used to the sound of your voice. You’ll start eliminating nervous filler words that we use in everyday conversation (like “um” and “like”), and you’ll practice managing your nervous reactions in real time.

To use the “practice now” technique:

• Speak or perform OUT LOUD (or in front of an audience, if it’s a dance performance or another type of high pressure event).  

• Find new opportunities to “practice now” in your daily life, and be aware of your posture, gestures and eye contact

• Pay attention to your nervous reactions. How comfortable or confident do you feel? What situations specifically make you nervous? 

• Practice managing your nerves (breathing more slowly, pacing yourself)

Why you need to practice

"Practice now" helps you eliminate some of your “pre-event jitters”. By focusing on the nuts and bolts of performance or public speaking, you'll start to short-circuit your nervous anxiety by keeping your brain occupied.

And "practice now" also helps you build awareness. 

Delivering strong talks or interviews means knowing EXACTLY how you respond under stress. This kind of simple, daily practice can give you the information you need to tackle any reaction.