How can you build self-confidence when rehearsing a presentation?

By connecting to your story. Your story belongs to nobody but you. When you embody it and step into it, you live it out loud to your audience. No one can tell it like you, present it like you, connect with it like you. Plus, have fun. You will touch people in ways that you could not ever imagine.

These steps are all valid but let's consider what isn't spoken enough and that is your self-awareness, specifically your own emotions. 1) What makes you nervous, anxious or excited? Small things like deep breaths or holding something in your hand (paper clip or token) can help calm and center your emotions. 2) What do you feel when someone presents to you? Take some notes when listening to your next presentation. Identify what makes you feel engaged, appreciated and connected. Then use those words, tones or gestures in your own presentation to trigger those positive emotions in your audience.

Building self-confidence is a journey. It starts with being self-aware. When you know who you truly are, your strengths, and areas of improvement, then you know how to prepare. Secondly, know your audience so that you deliver relevant and valuable content. Thirdly, prepare. There is no shortcut - put in the work. Write your notes/speech, read widely, consult, and rehearse. Then, own that stage, own that story! You can do it!

Knowing your audience and creating a narrative which would resonate with them is the key. Messaging has to be tailored accordingly including visuals . This is half battle won. Practising short and simple narratives is also a game changer.

Absolutely, setting a clear goal for your presentation is fundamental. It acts as your North Star, guiding content, delivery, and audience engagement. With a well-defined goal, you can tailor your message effectively, making it more impactful and increasing your chances of leaving a lasting impression on your audience.

Focus on keywords and phrases during your rehearsal - it will help you with recall during the main speech. Plan the rehearsal with the dress and setting (seated in chair/stool, standing etc.). This practice will support the recreation.

When I think about rehearsing a speech, it is certainly not memorising everything. We all had a friend who knew all the answers but was never engaging enough. You don’t want to do that. Every speech should have a purpose to achieve. You need to clarify that in your head. Jot down 3 key things you want audience to remember from your speech. Weave your speech around those. Think about it when you are taking shower or walking in the garden. Never try to rehearse entire speech in one sitting. Give it time to be part of you.

Timing the presentation and rehearsing like you are doing before actual audience would help tremendously. Deciding how much time to speak, how much time to allow for Q&A would make it a good presentation

Try recording your presentation. You can use Zoom. Then, watch it and use it to improve. Ask a trusted colleague for input by sharing the recorded rehearsal. Even if the real event will be live and in person, hearing and seeing yourself in the recording has preparation value. Work on eliminating filler words (so, like, uhm, ya know). Practice, practice, practice.

Develop a script early and rehearse it often. Start with repetitive reading, to the point that you begin to remember parts of the passages. Once you have a basic command of all language and phrasing in your script, you can begin to develop your physical presentation efforts. The more familiar you become with your script, the more natural your presentation will feel.

Positive self talk is a powerful tool to apply. Be prepared for the unprepared and deal with confidence. Calm yourself before the presentation by breathing or looking into the mirror wishing yourself the Best.

I can do this! I got this! We can do it! We got this! I am valued! I own what I take up! Keep going! Few very simple examples - the more you practice the more these will come naturally! Happy self- talking.

Sometimes presenting can be nervous but always believe this " you know much more than the audience", because you have spent time, done the research behind the content. "You are prepared enough". Just enjoy the process.

Positive self-talk falls flat if you don't truly believe it. If this happens, instead remember that negative self-talk is also often biased and unbalanced. It's not that it's 100% false (maybe you are boring...) but it's probably not 100% true either. 1. Look for how the negative self-talk is true i.e. Some people might be bored. 2. Play devil's advocate with yourself and look for how it's untrue i.e. People are coming to this because they're interested in the topic. I've had positive feedback in the past from similar presentations. 3. After that, come up with the most BALANCED view. I.e. "Some people might be bored, but most people are there because they want to learn and will appreciate what I have to offer."

Pump yourself up! You are your biggest cheerleader! Take deep breaths, infuse confidence in your mind and body, and give a small pep talk to yourself. You got this. Say this in your mind. Believe in yourself and be confident that the audience is going to love you. Unless you feel the energy, the audience won't be able to connect properly.

A great tip is to pretend that you are being filmed for TV. This helps you to summon up the energy necessary to deliver your rehearsal as if you are at the live event. It can help to face your webcam when doing this as it offers a focal point.

Visualizing success is vital for building confidence during presentation rehearsal. It helps reduce anxiety and mentally prepares you for a positive outcome. To do it effectively, find a quiet space and close your eyes. Envision yourself confidently delivering your presentation, engaging the audience, and receiving positive feedback. Focus on details like your body language, clear articulation, and audience reactions. Visualizing success reinforces your belief in your abilities and can significantly boost your self-confidence. Repeat this practice regularly before your presentation to build a strong mental foundation for success.

Visualize the audience, feel as if the seminar hall or meeting room is full of the people you are going to present to. Try to capture in your mind how would be after you say a particular line. Visualizing is a very powerful tool that can work wonders for your presentation.

Visualization is like a rehearsal in your mind's eye. Picture yourself nailing every point, captivating your audience, and feeling that rush of accomplishment. This isn't daydreaming; it's a mental blueprint for success. Doing this primes your brain to act in ways that make that success more likely. So, before you even step onto that stage, take a few minutes to visualize your win. It's like a confidence boost you can tap into anytime you need it.

I don't do this at all. It does help some folks and that's fine but it is not a necessary part of my presentation. Others have some good tips on here though.

I record my speech on voice notes on my phone and listen back after rehearsal. This can really help even if you have it on repeat in the car on the way to the presentation so you can speak along as you listen and it becomes more and more engrained.

Practicing out loud helps you to hear the words - and to make changes. We used to require speakers to do a dress rehearsal before going in front of the audience, and every speaker was shocked at the number of revisions they wanted to make after hearing themselves speak. If possible, record your rehearsal - listening to or viewing the replay will unveil additional areas of improvement. There is a lesson to learn from musicians: more you practice and rehearse, the more confident you will be. Your audience will appreciate the hard work!

Practicing out loud is crucial for refining presentation skills and boosting self-confidence. It helps you become comfortable with your content and delivery. To do it effectively, stand or sit in a presentation-like setting, use your visual aids, and speak as if addressing a live audience. Focus on pacing, tone, and clarity. Record yourself to identify areas for improvement and track progress. Rehearsing aloud repeatedly builds muscle memory and familiarity, enhancing your confidence in delivering the presentation with poise and precision.

Hear yourself. I know it sounds weird but it works. As you are rehearsing aloud, try to carefully listen each of your words. Focus on those. Trust me it’s not distracting rather brings focus to your words and gives you more confidence. Your speech will be more structured and less chances of missing something.

For me, the most crucial aspect is how I convey my message. Even though I may have great ideas, when I express them, they may not sound as good. It is not just about what you say, but also how you say it. Speaking aloud helps you perfect your speaking pace, use of pauses, and tone of your voice. Additionally, I prefer to rehearse my gestures and synchronize them with my words. Therefore, practicing out loud is essential for improving your communication skills.

Project slides (if any) on a large screen to check for resolution, alignment and typos. Small tweaks here will make a big difference.

Treat rehearsing like a dress performance. Do the actions, smile, own it. If something doesn’t sound right to you, or if you find yourself struggling to explain, articulate or remember a point, it’s a great indication that something isn’t quite right and that the chances are your audience will think the same. Don’t be scared to go back to the drawing board and change bits. You will know when you have it right… it will be natural and you can literally feel the flow.

Work on the content you are showing to the audience and work on the slides. Try to go with the real-time example with pictorial representation in the slides.

Cut extraneous content ruthlessly. The tighter your written narrative or notes, the tighter your grasp on your material. You can always add additional color during your delivery, but it is far more difficult to edit or redact content in the moment.

When rehearsing a presentation, practice in front of a mirror and with a timer. The mirror will allow you to see your facial expressions, hand placement, and other language that your body will display while presenting. It will also help to ensure that your body language is open and welcoming. A timer will condition your brain to stay within the allotted timeframe you've been given. Once on stage, your brain will automatically signal you to begin wrapping up when you reach a certain point in your presentation. Both of these tools can help you to stand out and give a polished presentation.

The quickest way to build self-confidence before you speak is quite simple: it’s to understand that it’s not about you! When we get into our head, when we worry about what people think about us, when we worry if they’re gonna like us, now we put the intention on ourselves and our ego, and we have completely forgot about what the whole point and intention is. If you’re standing on stage up in front of people, the intention should be purely about the audience. Giving to them, sharing, adding as much value as possible. When you’re in your head about you it’s become about you and you’ve now taking the attention and the love away from the audience.

Be flexible. Rehearsal is great for those who need rigidity to help. But plan for interruptions, what ifs and unexpected things happening. EG: When I trained for TV studio presenting a tool that was used was to deliver several pieces to camera, using autocue and with ear piece to the studio gallery, floor manager, director etc. The game was that they'd mess with people. Speed up, or slowdown the autocue, have multiple people talk in your ear at once trying to put you off. All while you had to keep going without showing any stress. As an ADHD'er I found that super easy. I enjoyed it. And I was the only one. But I firmly believe everyone should practice for the unplanned. Thst way nothing will rattle you when it does happen.

- Practice helps you become familiar with the material and reduces anxiety. - Understand the topic you are presenting - Practice deep breathing exercises to calm your nerves before and during your presentation. - Block out negative thoughts, replace them with positive affirmations. You can do this by saying out loud things such as ‘I am intelligent’ ‘I am prepared’ ‘My work and input is valued’ - Practice your presentation with a friend, colleague, or mentor for feedback. - Sharing personal experiences related to your topic can make you more relatable and confident. - If you make a mistake during the presentation, use humour as a tool to navigate through it and continue. - Don’t get caught up in the little details.

When I gave my first TED Talk I was super nervous. Even though I had performed on stage before, the big red dot was intimidating. Two things helped – encouragement and grounding. Encouragement came from the team who wanted to see me succeed. Having people around you who want that for you is immeasurable. Grounding came from a sense of importance in the work. Why was this talk important? To me? To be shared? I still use these questions to fuel my work. For any presentation, if I can articulate its importance on a personal level I find fuel that enlivens my presentation.