Speaking is a foundational skill we exercise in both group and one-on-one settings. Too often we wing what we are going to say, and as a result, we undermine our message and our credibility. When we wing it, we aren’t clear in our wording, we may stumble, or we come across as uncomfortable or lacking confidence.
If you want to “up your speaking game,” create muscle memory. Every athlete performs tasks over and over again to create muscle memory, so that when it’s game time, the entire body is working together cohesively. Speaking requires the same preparation. Before you deliver a presentation, provide feedback, pitch an idea, communicate a message, or speak about anything that has some weight to it, practice it . . . out loud. You may think that the process of organizing your talk, walking through it in your head, and preparing slides might be enough; it’s not. If your message is important, respect your audience by practicing out loud, multiple times, to create verbal muscle memory.