It is rightly said, ‘‘There is no glory in practice, but without practice, there is no glory.’’ It is human tendency to presume that practice and rehearsal for anything in life is tedious, unexciting, and mind-numbing, and rightly so. A similar attitude can be observed when it comes to practicing and rehearsing for presentations. Rehearsing and practice may look like steps that can be ignored; however, they are determinants of how the final presentation turns out.
Now, it has been reiterated numerous times that practice and rehearsal are integral to a presentation. But until the ‘why’ factor is discussed, it wouldn’t be convincing enough to believe in the concept of ‘practice.’ So, let’s understand why practice and rehearsal are necessary for a presentation:
1. Acts as an Edge
Not everyone can deliver impromptu presentations. As a matter of fact, speaking to a mass audience standing on a podium is an art that can’t be mastered overnight.
Most of us prefer to have a structure and a roadmap before we land into a challenge. Rehearsals and practice act as roadmaps to help you deliver your message right. Presenters who choose to put extra effort into practice and rehearsal get an edge over competitors, as most people barely run through their material and refuse to put in the extra hours.
2. Helps Prepare for Uncertainty
Practice helps deal with the anxiety and tension before a presentation. It is because most of us fear the ‘uncertain,’ and practicing for the same presentation may help in maintaining your composure on D-day. The practice has been proven to rewire our brains, as it creates a routine pattern for the brain to accept and process. Therefore, practice and rehearsal will help presenters recognize and prepare for future challenges and avoid them on the day of the presentation.
Practice and rehearsal may expose you to technical issues and distractions that could come in the way. It is generally advised to have a few practices with equipment and the entire set-up to tackle audio-visual issues, glitching devices, etc. Preparing for such challenges minimizes stress and helps the presenter focus on the actual presentation.
3. Boosts Self Esteem and Confidence
Now, when you have done multiple run-throughs and corrected past mistakes and your nervous system is well-versed with what is supposed to happen on the day of the presentation, you will have a significant boost in your confidence. Practice leads to consistent improvement in delivery and content, which will provide a sense of security and calm to the presenters.
4. Creates Impact on Non-Verbal Habits
While practice and rehearsal surely affect verbal habits, they also play an indispensable role in shaping non-verbal habits. In a presentation, even the tiniest details matter, be it the facial expressions, posture, gestures, voice tone, etc. After a lot of practice, the presenters tend to ease in and feel comfortable, which changes the body language and attitude of the presenter in the best possible ways. The pace of the delivery is in control, the content flows naturally, and the presentation becomes fun for both the presenter and the audience. This is because the presenter is assured of the content and can now focus on other relevant factors, which are often ignored in last-minute presentations.
Conclusion
Practice and rehearsal have numerous benefits that are bound to reflect in the long run. There is a reason why no actor enters the stage before practicing because they know that the real work is done during the rehearsal. Each minute of practice contributes to higher chances of growth and success. Therefore, it is vital to invest in practice and rehearsal to reap the benefits that most people are missing out on.
