Presentation Skills: How Learning to Present Is Like Learning to Golf by Dianna Booher
Channel: Dianna Booher - Communication Strategist & Author
Date: 2013-06-27

http://www.booherresearch.com  1-817-283-2333
Executive Communication Expert Dianna Booher

Presentation Skills:  How Learning to Present Is Like Learning to Golf
"Can you give me information on golf lessons," the voice on the other end of the line says. "Topics? Schedule?  Fees?"
"Sure can,"  the golfing instructor responds. "Okay. I can give you all that kind of information. But first, let me ask you a couple of questions: Experienced or beginner?  And what kind of timeframe are you talking about?"
"No formal training. Just watched a few tournaments. Tried to hit a few balls.  And timeframe—I'd like to be pretty good within a couple of weeks.  I'm starting a new job, and the culture there is golf. They do lots of business on the golf course."
"I understand. So, let's see. To answer your question about what the lessons cover.... The basic shots, how to improve your swing, that sort of thing."  The charges are going to vary by golf pro. Range is $125/hour to $2,200/hour.  We have 30-minute and 60-minute private sessions, or you could book a 2-hour playing session. The pro will tee off with you, give feedback on your shots as you play, and so forth."
"No, no, no.  I don't have time to actually come out to the club house.  I just want to get the tips."
"What?"
"I don't have time to get on the golf course. I just need someone to tell me how it's done. Maybe if you have something your pro has done online. I just need the key principles. I'll pick it up quickly."
Pretty naïve, guy or gal, right?
Yet that's the most frequent approach people take to improve their presentation skills in general—and to practice for a big presentation in general.  That is, they erroneously think they can build expertise or "practice a presentation" by doing a mental run-through.  That makes no more sense in presenting than in golf.
So what are the best approaches to practice a presentation?
• Create a key-word or phrase outline as a memory jogger.  This guides your practice to keep you on target and provides a security blanket for the actual event.
• Talk and walk through the presentation.  Stop to record your time on each key segment of your presentation.  This record allows you the flexibility to adjust your time "on the fly" if you have to cut your presentation short because the key decision maker arrives late or the previous speaker runs longer than expected. Nothing builds confidence like knowing you have the right content, well phrased, and timed perfectly.
• Jot down polished keepers as they roll off your tongue.  Capture those comments that you phrase extraordinarily well—before you forget them.  
• Video record your practice presentation, and listen to it. Analyze things you'd like to improve such as rough transitions, repetitious gestures, voice that trails off, word fillers (um's, uh's, ah's).
• Clean up your outline if you've made changes during your practice. But never make drastic layout changes on your security blanket because your brain actually "photographs" and memorizes the page. Should you have to glance at the outline during delivery, those last-minute changes will confuse rather than help you. 
Whether golfing or presenting, nothing improves performance like practice.