“Rehearsal Video” Videotape yourself practicing your next high stakes presentation. Now, watch it 3 times:

• Normal speed, normal volume
• Normal speed, no volume
• Fast Forward

Normal speed, normal volume: First, stop hating yourself. No, really, everyone thinks they sound and look weird, let it go. Do you think you got your ideas across? Good start. Do you think you meant business? Hmmm. Watch the video with someone else. Do they agree?

Normal speed, no volume: What story is your body telling? Does your movement have purpose? Do your gestures ADD to what you are doing, or distract?

Fast Forward: Who doesn’t love Benny Hill? It’s kind of fun to watch this way. But if FF elicits too many laughs, do you need to alter movements/gestures? “Funny” how glaring your quirks are, viewed like this. Watch for nervous movement, movement without a point and distracting gestures, all of which will jump out at you even better on FF.

“Performance Video” Videotape yourself speaking every chance you get. Get used to watching and learning from these tapes. Enlist a friend’s help, and ask them to write down:

• What they think you were trying to achieve
• What they can guess about who you were talking to
• Your 3 most important points
• Something you did well
• Something to improve

Well, how did you do?

Even if you don’t get up the nerve to view these recordings right away, keep at least a tape a year to review your progress.