Recording yourself giving a presentation can be a powerful way to improve your skills, confidence, and impact. But how do you make the most of this feedback tool? Here are some tips on how to learn from your own presentation recordings.
Depending on your goals and resources, you can record your presentation in different ways. You can use a smartphone, a webcam, a screen recorder, or a professional camera and microphone. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, so you need to consider the quality, convenience, and cost of each option. For example, a smartphone is easy to use and carry, but it may not capture your body language and gestures well. A webcam can show your facial expressions and eye contact, but it may not record your slides or audience reactions. A screen recorder can capture your slides and voice, but it may not show your personality and engagement. A professional camera and microphone can provide high-quality video and audio, but they may be expensive and require more setup and editing.
Once you have your recording, you need to watch it with a critical eye. Don't just focus on your mistakes or flaws, but also on your strengths and achievements. Try to watch your recording as if you were an objective observer, not the presenter. Ask yourself questions like: How clear and coherent was your message? How engaging and persuasive was your delivery? How well did you use your voice, body language, and visual aids? How did you handle questions and feedback? How did you adapt to the situation and audience? How did you deal with challenges and interruptions? How did you show your passion and credibility?
Watching your own recording can help you identify areas for improvement, but it can also limit your perspective and bias your judgment. That's why it's important to get feedback from others who can offer different insights and opinions. You can ask your colleagues, friends, mentors, or coaches to watch your recording and give you constructive criticism and praise. You can also join a community of presenters, such as Toastmasters, where you can share your recordings and get feedback from peers and experts. When you get feedback from others, be open-minded and respectful. Listen carefully, ask questions, and thank them for their time and input.
After watching your recording and getting feedback from others, you need to analyze your performance and identify the key takeaways. What did you do well and what did you do poorly? What are the main strengths and weaknesses of your presentation? What are the specific aspects that you need to work on and how can you improve them? What are the best practices and tips that you can apply to your next presentation? To help you analyze your performance, you can use a framework or a checklist, such as the 7 C's of communication (clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous) or the 4 P's of presentation (purpose, plan, prepare, and practice).
The final step in learning from your own presentation recordings is to implement your action plan. Based on your analysis, you need to set realistic and measurable goals for your improvement and create a plan to achieve them. For example, if you want to improve your voice projection, you can practice breathing exercises, vocal warm-ups, and speaking loudly and clearly. If you want to improve your slide design, you can use simple fonts, colors, and images, and avoid clutter and distractions. If you want to improve your audience engagement, you can use stories, questions, and humor, and interact with your listeners. Whatever your goals are, you need to practice regularly, monitor your progress, and adjust your plan as needed.
Learning from your own presentation recordings is not a one-time event, but a continuous process. You need to repeat the steps above every time you give a presentation, whether it's online or offline, formal or informal, short or long. By recording yourself, watching yourself, getting feedback, analyzing yourself, and implementing your action plan, you can learn from your own experience and become a better presenter.