Introduction to Preparation, Practice, and Delivery

Young man playing basketball

Like so many other skills, public speaking requires focused and consistent practice.

Have you ever heard the phrase “practice makes perfect”? Well, forget it. Perfection is an unrealistic goal by definition. However, practice does make a lot of other things possible. Practice will let you perform at your best without worrying about forgetting lines or losing your place. It will help you look and sound relaxed and natural while calibrating your tone and gestures to captivate your audience. More practice means less anxiety. More practice will give you the ability to deal gracefully with unanticipated problems, interruptions, or technical challenges. In the following section, we’ll discuss how to rehearse your speech effectively and efficiently so that your delivery is confident, powerful, and polished.