Practicing Your Speech

   to Add Finesse  To Your Delivery →


Do not read from a script-

You want to be comfortable with your material but when you read your speech word for word, you can start droning on like a robot. Know the points you want to make and how you want to make them. Allow yourself plenty of flexibility within each speech, as long as you have effectively mastered your material.

Lately, the President has received significant public scrutiny for using his teleprompter much too frequently. Sometimes little accidents can living things up, however!


Rehearse in front of an audience-

Rehearsing your speech in front of an audience and then asking for honest feedback not only improves your speech but also makes you a more confident presenter. Award winning public speaker Andrew Dlugan says "Practicing with an audience gives you valuable feedback: is your humor drawing smiles and laughs or is it missing completely? Are you receiving positive feedback in the form of nodding heads and smiles, or is a blank stare the most common expression?"

After rehearsing your speech for an audience, ask for honest feedback. Dlugan encourages speakers to ask open-ended questions like, “What was your favorite element in the speech? Why? How can I improve my speech for next time?”

Video tape your talk-
You have the chance to see yourself from your audience’s perspective, so take advantage of it! Once you have mastered your material, put on the outfit you’ll be presenting in, try to duplicate the speech setting as much as possible,  give your speech in front of the camera—and review it afterwards. Listen to the inflections in your voice. Do you sound awake and interested? Does your body language communicate confidence? Watch for any mannerisms that may be distracting. Analyze your facial expressions. Are you smiling? Do you look bored?

You may want to tape yourself twice to compare two versions of the same speech. For one recording, pull in the focus so you can see your facial expressions.



“There are certain things in which mediocrity is not to be endured, such as poetry, music, painting, public speaking.”

      - Jean de la Bruyere