Use "Bits" to Help Memorize Your Speech

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We've all sat through speeches where the presenter practically read his or her speech verbatim from sheets of paper or notecards on the lectern.

And we've all probably marveled at presenters who got all the way through an involved speech without ever once looking at notes.

Which one would you rather be?

The second one, of course.

But if you're not good at memorizing an entire speech (not many people are), how do you make it look like you've memorized it, even if you haven't?

The answer is to use "bits."

If you speak often, you usually tell the same stories or relate the same information in similar ways over and over again.

By gradually memorizing these frequently-repeated "chunks" over a period of time, you reduce your unfamiliarity with your speech as a whole and also build confidence in yourself as you feel more and more at ease with your "bits."

Professional speaker and presentation skills coach Tom Antion uses this memorized bit when he's coaching:

"I wasn't very good when I first started speaking. I think it was my first paid presentation. I think I was up on stage for about two minutes when the whole audience asked for a glass of water. Another time I was at a banquet and the meeting planner came running up and started tugging on my sleeve. She said, 'Will you shut up? You're interrupting the busboys!' I should have known something was wrong when the whole audience started doing the wave. They were singing 'Happy Trails to You..."

You can practice bits as you find time. While you're in the shower, while you're in the car, while you're doing your get-ready-for-work routine in the bathroom in the morning.

Since most bits are short, they're not hard to memorize: all you need to do is remember 2-3 key words in the form of an outline, and go from there.

Tom has some other great tips in his book, "Wake 'em Up Business Presentations." 

Also visit our section on Speechwriting Help.

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