Rehearsing a speech or presentation? Prepping for an interview? Do you really have to practice in front of a mirror? YES! Simply reciting your speech internally isn’t enough. Rehearsing in the mirror will help you improve your body language, mannerisms, and expressions, but that’s not all!
Looking at yourself while speaking forces you to multi-task and focus on multiple things at once. Your speech is no longer your only focus. You’re paying attention to other things now. Your brain is taking in the information from your eyes. You watch your lips move. You notice all the details of your face. Many people step on stage and freeze when they finally see the crowd. They aren’t prepared to process everything in front of them AND recall their speech. Preparation is the key to confidence. Subsequently, confidence reduces the anxiety and stress caused by public speaking.
Also, repeating your words in your head or mumbling them to yourself doesn’t simulate what it’s like to actually project words with your voice. With this method, you can remember your words, but you don’t have experience reciting them. Again, it’s your brain doing two things at once.
So get in front of that mirror and perform for your most important audience… YOU!
Looking at yourself while speaking forces you to multi-task and focus on multiple things at once. Your speech is no longer your only focus. You’re paying attention to other things now. Your brain is taking in the information from your eyes. You watch your lips move. You notice all the details of your face. Many people step on stage and freeze when they finally see the crowd. They aren’t prepared to process everything in front of them AND recall their speech. Preparation is the key to confidence. Subsequently, confidence reduces the anxiety and stress caused by public speaking.
Also, repeating your words in your head or mumbling them to yourself doesn’t simulate what it’s like to actually project words with your voice. With this method, you can remember your words, but you don’t have experience reciting them. Again, it’s your brain doing two things at once.
So get in front of that mirror and perform for your most important audience… YOU!
