What is Your Pre-Speech Routine?

[Ellen Dunnigan]

Question for you all: Many professionally trained speakers have a series of exercises or activities that they go through prior to taking the stage. What is your unique (or not so unique) "game day" ritual? What is especially effective?

[Robby Slaughter]

I find it's most helpful to remind myself of the key phrase or term that I want people to take away from the speech. This may be the title of the speech or a significant line that I will state several times. Practicing that phrase puts me in a great frame of mind to interact with the audience.

[Mark E. Light]

I know that it SHOULD be my mantra but, so far, it has not been. Assuming that I am properly prepared, I try and take my mind off the speech itself and use that time to connect with my audience by "working the room" just a bit. This way, I find that I am speaking to friends, rather than strangers, which helps tremendously with easing any anxiety that I might have. But the key to this for me is the hours and hours of preparation which goes into the speech before the day ever even arrives. If I know my stuff....and I KNOW that I know my stuff, it allows me to focus on things other that the speech itself because I will have literally earned the confidence necessary to do so.

[Kimberly Howell]

I would agree with Mark. Knowing that I KNOW what I'm speaking about allows me to focus on those I'm sharing the message with. It allows me to enjoy the presentation and the response I'm getting from those in attendance. This can only be accomplished by the preparation that goes into it well before that day.

[Francine Carter]

I listen to two pieces of music that are especially inspiring to and for me. Then I go early so I can see and experience the room. I like to mingle with the participants, if possible, to gain some connection and possibly use it in the speech.

[Cindy Hartman]

Well, Ellen, number one is to repeat my mantra that you helped me create. That one thing really gets me set, confident and comfortable (thank you, thank you, think you!). The other 2 key items are to 2) wear something that is appropriate for the group and I feel good wearing it and 3) talk to people as they arrive so I have some friends in the audience.

[Scott Emmett]

I'll write something funny about this but right now I just can't think of a thing.

[Bill Alerding]

Ellen, When I am clear on what I am going to speak about, I go over it constantly in my head and continually edit it. Knowing what I am going to say, I find it helpful to meet people who will become my audience, find out what they are interested in, and what they are anticipating from my talk. I listen to them through my rehearsed talk, seeing whether I need to put an extra stress on something that would be helpful to them.

Bill Alerding

[Doug Vann]

Most of my work is developing complex, dynamic internet applications and websites with Drupal; the license-free, Open Source Software used by Sony, BMG, Warner Brothers,and Fast Company. I also travel extensively and teach others how to do it as well. when I speak in front of an audience I know that I'm going to be talking about high tech concepts. I know that I'm going to be using a lot of "big words" to describe even bigger concepts.
So what do I do before taking my audience on a wild ride through the tech jungle?
For me it's all about going over the slides [if there are slides] and going over the website [if I'm showing one off] and making absolute sure that I know what I know. I need my presentation to come off as something I know like the back of my hand.
- Doug Vann - Read My dougvann.com Blog - Twitter Me