Imagine an athlete running onto the field without stretching, preparing, or mentally focusing on the activity they’re about to engage in. It wouldn’t make any sense, would it?
Athletes who want to perform at a high level need to prepare for every event. The same holds true for presentations. If you want to be your best, it’s critical that you prepare your body, voice, and mind for the task ahead.
Preparation isn’t just about knowing your material; it’s about getting into the right physical and mental state to effectively deliver it. When you prepare properly, you feel more confident and you’re more engaging, articulate, and responsive to your audience.
I’ve developed a series of exercises that take about 10 minutes to prepare myself for my presentations. These exercises focus on three key areas: the body, the voice, and the mind.
Body Preparation
Start with some light stretching to release any physical tension. If you’re feeling especially nervous, do jumping jacks, push-ups, or deep squats to burn off some of that excess energy.
Next, engage in various deep breathing exercises to calm your body and center your thoughts.
Voice Preparation
Your voice is your primary presentation tool. Warm it up with exercises for your vocal cords that prepare your range and volume to ensure you’re ready to speak with clarity and expression.
Mind Preparation
Mental readiness is crucial. Five minutes before I’m introduced, I asked myself five questions that help me center my focus on the audience. This helps me feed off of their energy and reduce nervousness because I’m focused on their benefit or not my own thoughts.
By dedicating 10 – 15 minutes to these preparation exercises, you can transform your presentation from ordinary to extraordinary. You’ll feel more in control, and your audience will notice the difference in your delivery.
Like any athlete or entertainer, if you prepare for every presentation, you give yourself the best chance to perform at your highest level.
FEATURED RESOURCE
Every storyteller faces challenges. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep your audience engaged, or maybe you’re not sure how to make your stories relatable and impactful.
But what if you could turn these challenges into opportunities?
With the High Impact Storytelling ABS Toolkit, you’ll discover how to navigate these obstacles and come out on top. This toolkit will guide you through:
– Easily creating the first version of your story
– Creating emotional connection with relevant narrative details
– Entering each presentation situation with confidence that you are ready
In a few days, we’ll post a special video that dives deep into the toolkit and how it can elevate your storytelling. Keep an eye out for our next post!