1 Set your goals and criteria

Before you start practicing, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you will measure your progress. What are the main objectives of your speech? What are the key messages you want to convey? What are the expectations and needs of your audience? How do you want them to feel and act after listening to you? Write down your goals and criteria and use them as a guide for your practice and feedback sessions.

2 Use a variety of methods and tools

There are various methods and tools you can use to practice your speech. For instance, you can record yourself on video or audio and watch or listen to your performance to observe your voice, body language, eye contact, pauses, filler words, and tone. Additionally, practicing in front of a mirror or a poster of an audience can help you imagine speaking to real people and engaging them with facial expressions, gestures, and questions. It's also beneficial to practice in front of a friend, colleague, or coach who can provide honest and constructive feedback. To get more familiar with the conference setting and situation, try to visit the venue if possible; otherwise, recreate the conditions as much as you can. Lastly, practice with different scenarios and challenges such as if your slides don't work or your microphone fails. This will help you handle these situations gracefully and confidently.

3 Review and refine your speech

After each practice session, review your performance and feedback and identify what worked well and what needs improvement. Don't be too hard on yourself or too complacent. Be objective and realistic about your strengths and weaknesses. Use your goals and criteria as a benchmark and focus on the most important aspects of your speech. Make notes of the changes you want to make and implement them in your next practice session. Repeat this process until you feel confident and comfortable with your speech.

4 Get feedback from others

Getting feedback from others is an essential part of rehearsing and practicing your speech. It can help you refine your content, delivery, and impact, as well as increase your confidence and motivation. However, not all feedback is useful or pertinent. You should be selective and strategic when it comes to who you ask, what you ask, and how you use the feedback. Here are some tips to get feedback from others: Choose people who are knowledgeable in your topic, audience, or conference; those who are supportive, honest, and constructive; and those with different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Ask for feedback at different stages of practice and rehearsal. Do not wait until the last minute. Request feedback on specific aspects of your speech instead of general or vague questions. Utilize feedback as a guide rather than a rule. Remember that you are the expert on your topic and the owner of your speech; you have the final say on what to keep, change, or discard.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?