I've written in previous tips about how tackling a speech or presentation has similarities with tackling in rugby - success comes when you "turn on the TAP" - when you have the right Technique, the right Attitude and you do the Practice. 

This week's tip is all about Practice.  A common mistake for speakers and performers is to practice their speech or other performance over and over, trying to get it "just right".  

The trouble is doing that often ends up with a performance that is stale and over-rehearsed.   But winging it won't result in the most polished or effective performance either.

The trick then, is to find a way of rehearsing that allows you to practice your key points, without sounding stale or over-rehearsed. 

One way to do this is to practice your speech in different characters.
 
Practice it as an Italian Opera Singer with huge, expansive gestures, rolling out the words, as big as possible.

Practice it as Humphrey Bogart, or one of the guys from Bro'town, or as a Yorkshireman, or as a a seductive temptress.   Practice it as if you were Dolly Parton, or Elvis, or John Key or Helen Clark, or Yoda. 

However you do it, you'll get the words set in your mind (so you remember the speech), you'll become more expressive, and will intuitively bring more liveliness and vocal variety into your actual performance.

And don't forget my Tip number 11: a run through focussing on articulation - The tongue between the teeth trick so you can really articulate.

Like this tip? 

You may also like:

Turn on the TAP: Why speaking is like Rugby

Why you're better to aim to be average than a superstar on stage

Where things go wrong : Poise and how to find it

And other past tips at the HelpforSpeakers archive.