When I was growing up, my mother was often asked to speak at major events in our local community. She was known for her creative presentations. She always wrote a poem or a song to accompany the theme of the event. She was always prepared, regardless of the size of the audience or the significance of the event. .
Few people ever knew how much time she invested in preparing for those events. Many, just thought she was naturally talented, but she was always rehearsing and refining her skill. I will never forget her intense desire to prepare. It was something she did all day long. She rehearsed in the kitchen while she was preparing the family meals. She rehearsed while she was caring for our home. We even heard her in the bathroom polishing her routine. It was non-stop, and we usually knew it as well as she did by the time she gave the actual presentation.
Relentless Pursuit
My mother’s example taught me how to persistently prepare to be professional. She taught us that we are responsible for delivering value. She taught us that it is not OK to leave things to chance. If we want to deliver a good performance, than we had better be willing to pay the price.
The other day, I rediscovered how important it is to rehearse. It is the number one way to overcome fear. The more we rehearse, the more confidence we develop. A recent study on success documented that successful people practice twice as much as their counterparts.
Despite this evidence, only a few people actually practice for the work that they do. I don’t understand this philosophy, but some just say they want to be fresh and in the moment, so they write their presentations and then deliver it for the first time in front of the client.
Can you imagine people only slightly reviewing a script before they opened a broadway show, or an NBA team just showing up for the games without ever practicing. While, their natural talents may shine through, they will never reach their potential without practicing.
The Power of Practice
My recent involvement in the theater, taught me another lesson about rehearsing. The more I rehearse, the more comfortable I become with the movement and verse. As a result, the content becomes my own. It actually becomes a part of me, and I am no longer acting a part or reciting lines. The more I rehearse, the more I am able to naturally and authentically present my part with power.
How much time do you spend rehearsing?
What impact would increasing your rehearsal time have on the amount of value you deliver?
Are you encouraging your team to rehearse individually and collectively?
The voice of authenticity comes from creating the space to practice. If you really want to get better at something, you must be willing to increase the frequency in which you do it. Rehearsal provides the opportunity to do it without an audience. That gives us the opportunity to make corrections without penalty. It also makes your audience think you are a natural talent. Anybody got a problem with that?
Live Today! Love Today!
Andrew Thorn
760-559-3548
