A common fear in presenting is forgetting what comes next. And therefore, a common mistake is to counteract that by trying to memorize too much. However, we never worry much about what comes next in everyday conversation. So what is the difference?
Does it all come down to being 'under the spotlight?' At a party, you could share your opinion with another guest. Suddenly the room quietens, and everyone turns toward you to hear what you will say next. Chances are you would become self-conscious and no longer be able to speak. We can talk about feeling exposed and under pressure, about fear of failure or embarrassment, and the weight of expectations (usually our own).
In the end, however, it probably all comes down to conviction and clarity of thought. If, at the party, you were talking about something you felt strongly about, if you were convinced about your critical point and passionate about your beliefs, you would probably be able to continue after a moment's hesitation. So the clearer the message and the stronger your reason for speaking, the less likely you are to get lost in what you want to say.
I recently attended the final of a youth speaking event. An hour before the contest, one of the girls asked my colleague:
'What if I forget?'
He gave most of the tips we would typically suggest: slowing down, taking a breath, and he explained to her that a pause never seems as long for the audience as it feels for the speaker, etc...
I had trained this girl, so when I started to speak to her, there was a smile of recognition because she probably knew what was coming.
I asked: 'Do you know your last line?'
She said, 'Yes.'
'Do you know the point of your speech?'
She said, 'Yes.'
'Then you'll be OK.'
That may sound simplistic and almost dismissive.
However, I highlighted some principles I knew she already understood. Firstly, if you know your last line, which usually contains the 'message' or the 'point' of the speech, and forget some of the content, you can always jump straight to your main point. The speech may seem short, but at least the point gets across. Secondly, she realized that if you get stuck for a moment, that explicit knowledge of your last line will usually be enough to pull you back onto the path and remind you of what you wanted to say.
And she also understood that the key to a successful presentation is simplicity. We have a tendency when we are under pressure to overcomplicate.
So the effect of knowing your last line is twofold:
(i) it gives you a safe place to cut to if you get lost mid-speech (it's like an escape gate in a maze)
(ii) it acts like a bright beacon drawing you back onto the path to your conclusion.
(iii) it keeps everything simple, helping reduce the pressure, which means you are less likely to forget anything in the first place
If you're looking to enhance your professional skill set or want to help a colleague on the road to success, enrol in our Public Speaking Classes This executive public speaking course helps you to polish your skills so you can present comfortably to the board and other industry professionals.
