Practice Makes Pefect

What is the problem when people try to describe what they do and they stumble over their words and never consistently repeat the same message?

Have you ever gone to a networking event and the person next to you is trying to describe what they do and they keep miscuing the words? This happens so often at these events. The major problem, besides focus, is the fact that they have not practiced their spiel. Why is it that they do not practice? Quite often you feel self-conscious when trying to practice in front of a mirror and others are around to hear you try over and over again. The solution is to make sure you have a door closed where you cannot be disturbed. Or you may decide that taping yourself (audio only) or videotaping yourself to hear and see how you look while making the presentation. This is how the professionals do it. They practice and practice until their presentation is smooth. Did you know that Robin Williams takes at least 37 tries on any movie set before he feels that his performance is up to par? He is a seasoned pro, yet he still practices all the time. Could you also imagine Michael Jordan not practicing throwing balls into the hoop?

Even having reached the professional level, practice becomes even more imperative. Without practice, there is no moving forward; without it, you will be surprised that the words do not flow the way they should. You must become the expert if you are to work a room effectively. Do not think of this in terms of a smooth talking salesman (the connotation is often negative), but as the way you present yourself, with confidence and poise. People will more likely enjoy listening to you when your message is practiced.

Practice is like acting, you need to keep working on it until you think the pitch is perfect. Practicing the words is not the only thing you need to work on. How you move your body, your eye contact, hand gestures, arm positions, how you stand, and how your face looks, all play a part in your practice sessions. You need to treat your practice session like you are playing a part in a movie. Soft skills such as body language and intonation all contribute to the pitch.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://BlueprintBooks.com

---

10 Steps to Successful Networking

"It's not what you know, it's who you know."This old... Read More

Networking: Breaking into the Buzz

Breaking into conversational groups is one of the things people... Read More

Power Networking: Getting Your Name Out There!

Today's economy presents some very special challenges to people who... Read More

Are You Really Listening: The Importance of Strong Communication Skills

Let's face it, when most people think of IT professionals,... Read More

Lesson 14 - Whats In A Handshake?

The StoryAs a child growing up, one of the many... Read More

Networking Skills: Arguing in Context

If you're fond of a good debate, you know how... Read More

Discover Your Own Source Of Business Leads

Generating new business leads is critical in your success, no... Read More

Come Home Rich - How to Get the Most out of Your Next Conference

Success in your career depends upon how well you manage... Read More

Lessons from the Wedding Mafia

One of my clients shared a story with me from... Read More

Networking

Networking: Is it who you know or what you know... Read More

Success Sentences to Help Combat Conversational Crappiness

Essential to your success as an effective, engaging communicator is... Read More

Acknowledging Referrals! What?s in It For You?

I grew up in a household where saying thank you... Read More

Getting Leads

How many leads do you pass on?As a reminder, you... Read More

How to Make the Most of Those First 30 Seconds

Did you just meet the most important person in your... Read More

10 Top Tips for Successful Networking

1. Recognise the importance of networkingAsk any successful business person... Read More

Your Front End

While surfing for traffic or browsing your safelist emails, you... Read More

Did You Market Yourself Today?

"If you build a better mouse trap - the world... Read More

Strategic Networking: Take the Shortest Path to Success

Do you use Ryze or LinkedIn to promote your web... Read More

Measuring Value for a Networking Group

How do you measure a group's worth to your organization?It... Read More

How To Make Your Next Networking Event A Success

There are people who are natural born networkers - those... Read More

62 Ways to MAXIMIZE Your Approachability

If you walk into your local bookstore and pick up... Read More

The Promotion Factor: Seven Strategies to Promote Yourself and Your Business by Playing Golf

Effective business promotion is more powerful than advertising. Using golf... Read More

Putting The Fun Back In Networking

Networking is one of the most important skills a person... Read More

Network Marketing Secret: On Becoming the ?GoTo? Guy

For years we've been taught to identify ourselves as reps... Read More

The Five Step Formula For Getting Prospects to Call You

Are you tired of prospecting for new business?Are you sick... Read More

Networking for Wallflowers: How to Profit from Getting into the Crowd

The two most common complaints about networking are: 1) I... Read More

Test Your Networking Know-How

Let's test your knowledge on networking:1)The best definition of networking... Read More

Keys to Successful Networking While In Transition

Let's be real. With other pressures of life upon us,... Read More

How to Shmooze

Definition: talk idly or casually in a friendly way Value:... Read More

Social Network Software

My neighbor ? a lovely man I've known, and have... Read More

Networking to a New Life

Research shows that talking to strangers -- not people in... Read More

How to Collect Business Cards

Why the business card grab is not why you are... Read More

The 7 Habits of Highly Horrible Networkers

Networking is a term that didn't exist (academically) until almost... Read More