You can do many things to prepare for a talk. Record yourself. Request feedback from a willing audience. Practice. The list goes on.
One way to help you achieve your speaking goals is to visualize the steps you need to take in order to be a successful, effective speaker. For example:
- Imagine yourself conducting research.
- Picture yourself drafting a clear, engaging message.
- Visualize yourself practicing.
- Mentally watch as you respond to audience questions.
You know what to do to develop your presentation. Researchers Taylor, Pham, Rivkin, & Armor (1998) say that by imagining yourself successfully completing each step, you’ll maintain motivation and help make it happen!
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