5 Public Speaking Drills Every Presenter Should Try Now

A good presenter plans, prepares, and practices their talk. But a great presenter takes their talks to the next level by regularly engaging in drills and activities to enhance their delivery, improve their confidence, and increase their command of the room.

If you want to be among the best of the best, then you should definitely make a habit of practicing the following five public speaking drills.

1. Explain it to a Five-Year-Old
The best presenters know how to break down complex topics and abstract ideas into plain language that anyone can understand. And a great way to get good at that is by using this exercise. The next time you’re preparing a presentation, practice explaining the topic like you would to a five-year-old, using language and analogies they can understand. This will ensure that your topic is clear and concise as well as help you avoid saying more than is necessary to get your message across. Bonus points if you find a real-life child to practice with.

2. Write it Out
One of the toughest parts of presenting is figuring out what, exactly, you need to say about a topic that might feel abstract, broad, or otherwise overwhelming. Writing out your main points will help you distill this information into the most important points while enabling you to better visualize how your presentation should unfold. This also makes it much easier to identify any holes in your topic and any unnecessary information clouding your primary message.

3. Play With Your Posture
The posture you display when presenting is hugely important to your presentation’s overall success. In fact, studies suggest that good posture can significantly improve how confident you look and feel. Posture expert and author, Amy Cuddy, found in her research that when someone stands with their hands on their hips for two minutes prior to a presentation, not only does the audience see them as more confident, but the presenter actually feels more confident as well. So the next time you present, step into the bathroom and do this quick exercise to increase those confidence levels.

4. Try on Different Paces
You probably already know you shouldn’t rush through your presentation nor take too long, but there’s plenty to play with in between those two points. Practicing your talk using different paces will show you the most effective way to deliver it. You’ll have a better grasp of when to slow down for emphasis, when to speed up for engagement, and generally the most effective method of delivery for your particular topic.

5, Record Yourself
Watching a recording of yourself might seem a little cringe-worthy, but it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself as a presenter. Simply put, it’s impossible to really know how we look and sound during a presentation unless we watch ourselves. Taking time to record your talk will shed light on things you’d otherwise miss, like any vocal tics that are interfering with your message or posture improvements you can make to appear more commanding and confident.

Want more ways to elevate your presentations? Then check out Ethos3’s Catapult Training.

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