More information on rehearsal techniques

Engage in both mental and physical rehearsal. By mental rehearsal, they suggest visualizing you mentally presenting a strong, poised, coherent presentation. This is a technique that is often used by athletes with sometimes stunning results. The theory is that if you picture yourself speaking effectively, you will indeed speak effectively. Physical rehearsal is the more common type of practice where a speaker presents his speech to a friend, coworker, or simply to the wall. It is this type of rehearsal with which the remainder of the suggestions for practice will be concerned.

Rehearse the speech as a whole. It is better to not practice sections of a speech individually. After all, you don’t present your speech in sections. It is often beneficial to go so far as to practice your speech just as it will be performed, from the moment you get out of your seat to speak until the time you have returned to your seat.

Simulate the speaking situation as closely as possible. The idea situation is to practice your speech in the very room which it will be performed If this is not possible, try to find a room or environment as close to the performance environment as possible. If a lectern will be used, use one in practice. Just do anything you can to make your practice approximates the actual performance.