Popularly, public speaking is sometimes rated as being the public’s number one fear before death. At least that’s what they frequently say at workshops and seminars. In any case, it is often scary, particularly when you are first starting to do this on a regular basis, and even after that, seasoned speakers and presenters, like stage actors and actresses, often feel anxious flutters before they go on. Remember, though, that having a slightly increased stress level can actually lead to a better performance, since your energy and adrenaline is up and flowing, while too much—as you may have already learned—can interfere with performance.
Perhaps the major concern, apart from people not liking your message, is that you will forget what you are going to say. When I was younger, through my 20s and early 30s, I had this fear of forgetting, though I pushed myself through it. I just forced myself to get out and speak, and eventually, after about a decade of this—practicing again and again—I got to realize that yes, hey, I can do this. I will remember. I won’t forget.
Though I didn’t have a particular name for the main technique I used, you might call it “tapping into your unconscious.” It was like announcing I was going to talk about this particular topic, and then letting my unconscious mind loose on that subject. It’s a technique I first learned at Toastmasters, when we were called upon to give a spontaneous talk for a few minutes on whatever topic the meeting leader came up with. And after I found I could do this when called on, I simply expanded the approach to other subjects, and after a time, outlines and structures for whatever I was talking about seemed to pop up into my head as well.
Well, that’s just one of a number of memory strategies you can draw on to help you with speeches, presentations, and running a meeting. Here are a variety of other strategies. You’ve met most of them before in other chapters. The focus here is on how to apply the techniques in your memory strategies repertoire if you want to give a speech, put on a presentation, or run a meeting.
There’s no need to spend the time trying to ram exactly what you are going to say in your memory. It’s a mistake to try to write and rewrite a speech or outline so you can memorize it exactly or continually repeat it over and over so you know everything line by line. While actors and actresses may have to do this in learning a part, you don’t. In fact, a completely memorized talk often comes across as canned and stilted, and is likely to bore both you and your audience.[1]
Instead of memorizing it all, focus on remembering the key words or trigger words for each topic you are going to talk about.[2] The first step is to create these words for the major topics and then create some key words or trigger words for subtopics. Then, use either a short outline of these trigger words or put them in a mind map, in which you have branches for the main topics and smaller branches coming off of those for the subtopics, as described in Chapters 11 and 17. Typically, an outline or mind map will contain up to about 100 words or less. While this approach is commonly used for speeches, you can also adapt it for presentations you are doing, such as when you are facilitating a group discussion and want to bring up certain topics. Or use this to structure a meeting and lead it with increased spontaneity and control (though you can use a written agenda as well).
Once you have determined your main and subtopics and the trigger words to remind you of each topic, the next step is to remember those words, and if desired, the order of those words as well. You can use any number of systems to do this. Pick the one that feels best for you. Some techniques might be:
Create a picture in your mind of the mental map (Chapters 11 and 17); imagine you are a camera taking the picture (Chapters 23).
Use chunking to combine subtopics together into categories (Chapter 12).
Use the Roman Room, Loci, or other journey method, in which you put topics you want to cover along the path (Chapter 22).
Use any of the memory techniques for recalling lists of words, such as one of the link systems and (Chapter 20).
Use your imagination and association to make the trigger words even more memorable—as you do when you create a vivid image for each word along the path on your journey or associated with each number on your list.[3]
While you can use any of these systems, sometimes you might choose one that is related to the topic of your speech or presentation. For example, if you are going to be giving a speech in a large auditorium, you might scope out the auditorium in advance and place topics at various points around the room. That way, as you gaze around the room, particular places will trigger your thoughts on that topic. Or if your talk is about gardening, you might imagine yourself walking along a path in the garden, so that certain sections of plants or objects like fountains trigger different talks. Likewise, if you are going to be giving a sales talk on cars, the journey might take you around a car showroom.
Then, whatever journey you choose, create an image for each topic that you place along the way. For instance, if your topic is increasing the bottom line for your sales talk on cars, you might see a long, white strip appear on one car you pass in the showroom; if you are going to be talking about creating a more effective phone presentation, you might see a large telephone sitting on another car.
Using whatever visual, peg, or link systems and imagery associations you have chosen, practice, practice, practice, so you firmly remember those words and their image associations. Then, as you call up each word on your journey or list, speak spontaneously about that topic, so you reinforce the link between the triggering words and what you are going to be talking about. You don’t have to remember exactly what you are going to say; just let it flow spontaneously, which is where tapping into your unconscious comes in. Once you know the material solidly, your unconscious can take over, much like turning on a tape recorder or cassette recorder and letting it play whatever segment you select. In fact, when you let it flow spontaneously, you sound more natural and energized, which helps your speech or presentation come alive—and it makes you a better leader at a meeting too, since you are more flexible and better able to respond to whatever comes up at the meeting.
Generally, you should go through your journey at least four or five times and you should space out your rehearsals, since we learn better over time. Ideally, allow about a week to do this, and perhaps use this rehearsal schedule suggested by Dominic O’Brien, who suggests: “Play the journey over to yourself . . . at least five times; one hour after you have devised it; the next day; and then at regular intervals until the big day. According to the revision rule of five (whereby repeating something five times commits it permanently to memory), the speech should now be unforgettable, and along with it the triggers that will allow you to give a scintillating and confident talk.”[4]
Having followed all these steps, you should now be ready. But if you still feel overly anxious—not the normal heightened level of tension that usually leads to a great performance—try a relaxation technique. Just breathe deeply and say to yourself something like “I am relaxed, I am relaxed” or “I feel very calm, cool, collected, and confident.” Then, with your eyes closed or open as you prefer, imagine yourself at the start of your journey or list. Now mentally step forward or go to the first word on your list, and start talking. At this point, your unconscious should kick in and you are on your way.