01 Feb What’s my line?
Clients always ask David, “How did you memorize all those lines when you were the lead in a Shakespeare play?” (Often, they are concerned they won’t remember their presentation.) Actors have many methods, including writing their part out in longhand– a proven aid to memorization.
And what most people don’t realize is that Shakespeare wrote in iambic pentameter, blank verse and prose, which were beneficial to retention. This is why when David was at Oregon Shakespeare, their ensemble could mount five different plays in four weeks! But when David performed Beyond Therapy, a Christopher Durang play at the Berkeley Rep, it was a bear to memorize because of the contemporary dialogue and loose, sketch-like structure.
As a speaker covering business topics, you’re not delivering sonnets with rhyming couplets. So, work off an outline. Provide a framework for flow, e.g. large fonts, lots of white space, and trigger words or short phrases allowing you to better connect with your audience. Rehearse out loud, making changes as you hear your content. And use acronyms (A: assess, C: collaborate and T: train or ACT) to remember your three talking points and allay speaker anxiety.
The enemy of recall is mental clutter. Before speaking, clear your mind of useless fears. Concentrate on being totally present and trust in your ability and rehearsals. The mind, if focused, is quite sticky and can retrieve huge amounts of information. Shrink your Intention to a single goal and embrace your moment to shine.
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