Nix Nerves: Pro Tip 1
This pro tip for nixing nerves is to memorize your first sentence. Absolutely know the first words coming out of your mouth. Practice your opening words so that you can recite them upside down, standing on your head, with your eyes closed and your hands behind your back. Know your first sentence.
Please don’t hear me saying you should memorize your entire speech. Inevitably, you’ll forget something and end up standing there with that deer-in-the-headlights-of-an-oncoming-car look of fear. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with glancing at a bulleted list of your talking points. However, you don’t want to give the impression you need notes during your opening statement. You should be able to stand and deliver your opening remarks with confident audience eye contact. You would be surprised at how many executive speakers begin by looking down and reading their notes or slides.
So, while I would never advise speakers to commit their entire speech to memory, I do encourage them to practice their openings and closings more than 20 times. Start strong; end stronger. Memorize your first and last sentences.
