There is a famous quote I love from Pablo Picasso, it goes like this “learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” This quote captures the importance of preparation and practice beautifully. What Picasso is emphasizing is the reality that if you prepare well, it gives you the freedom to express the artist inside of you. Though this quote is directed at the artist I believe this quote is just as applicable to the presenter.
In many ways crafting and delivering a presentation is an art form. That’s right, to all of you who have said you’re not an artist; if you have ever delivered a sales pitch or spoken in front of a room of your peers you are exactly that.
This principle of preparing well so that you give yourself freedom to express yourself is vital to every great presentation. It is based on this principle that I believe in the importance of memorizing your presentation. I know, I know. Many of your jaws just hit the floor and your mind immediately said there is no way you could do that. So, let me start out by saying that I am terrible at memorization. I still could not tell you the math facts, or even the 50 United States capitals that I was forced to learn growing up.
But with a few tricks I have learned along the way, you can become a memorization king or queen and fully embrace Picasso’s outlook on preparation today.
Hand write your presentation.
You may be asking yourself, “are we in the stone age? Why would I ever hand write a presentation?” That is a fair question. However, if you want to memorize your presentation it’s the best place to start. In fact, did you know that according to researchers, after 24 hours people who took notes on their computer and were asked to recall the information tested worse than those who had hand written their notes. Study after study has found a direct correlation to hand writing and memorization so the best thing you can do is start there. Put away the computer, pull out the old fashion notepad, and start writing.
Practice your presentation out loud.
I cannot tell you the number of times I have stood in the corner of a green room backstage and rattled through the same presentation over and over again. According to the Waterloo Study, you are more likely to remember something if you say it out loud. They go on to say that the act of speaking text aloud helps information to be retained in long term memory; this is also known as the “production effect.” If you want to memorize your presentation, don’t settle for reading it in your head, use your words and speak them out loud. This will also help you to catch any awkward language in your presentation.
Give yourself a cheat sheet.
Here is the thing: no matter how much effort you put into memorizing your presentation, the odds are good that you will forget something. It is in those moments that a cheat sheet becomes vital. What I am not talking about is a 15-page document that you have to thumb through to keep your place. Instead I am talking about a one-page outline that has key words for each section of your presentation. These words will serve as a way to jog your memory when you are unsure of what comes next. Think of them mental reminders of information you have already stored away.
Memorization is a great resource for a presenter. Not only does it ensure that you deliver a top-notch presentation, but it also gives you the freedom to do what you do best and sell your product, inspire your audience, or raise some capital. Though memorization may seem restrictive and time consuming, it is in fact the opposite as it frees you to be you. I’m sure Picasso did not love the rules, but he knew the importance of them and that within those rules there was great freedom.
If you are looking for a way to better understand your strengths and weaknesses as a presenter check out our proprietary Badge assessment today.
