Public Speaking is Like Practicing the Piano

I started taking piano lessons in second grade. I loved show tunes and learned to practice consistently and meaningfully every single day. I broke down each new piece into bite-sized chunks: I practiced slowly, measure by measure, line by line until I made my way to the end. Then, I would put it all together, eventually practicing the piece out of order so I started with a tricky passage and learned to master it. I let myself make mistakes and worked through them. When I wasn't practicing, I could hear the music in my head. While I was reading a book or watching tv, my fingers would often tap the notes on an imaginary keyboard.

It wasn't until later in life that I realized I approach preparing for a public speaking engagement in the same way that I approached practicing the piano. I share this because I know so many people struggle with public speaking, whether it's because they feel awkward standing in front of a crowd, don't know what to say or how to organize their thoughts, or tend to "cram" before a presentation only to stumble in the end.

My approach may resonate with those of you who learned to play an instrument – or may be doing so now with so much spare time on our hands. When I'm engaged to speak or give a presentation, I practice every day leading up to the event. I start by breaking down what I'd like to say into manageable pieces. I start with the basics and think about the who, what, where, when, why, and how of my message. Like learning new music, it's easiest to digest smaller parts than tackle the whole. Not to mention, consistency is key.

The big difference is that I don't follow a script like I would the sheet music; unlike music, there is no right note or word that I "must" say for the message to sound right. However, both music and public speaking are an art, not a science. In fact, I don't write a script, speech, or any sort of word-for-word presentation. I stick to a high-level, bullet outline that I condense over time and use as a prompt when I practice. I practice aloud, every day, bit-by-bit, point-by-point, until I work out the kinks in what I’d like to say. I allow myself to stumble over my words. I practice out of order. I think about what I’d like to stay, talk through it in my mind, and keep an internal conversation going in my head, just as I used to hear the music.

Whether sitting down at the piano or delivering a speech, the key to success is really the same: the discipline to work at it every day, the humility to start simple and make mistakes, and the love for the art that's authentically yours. Now that's music to my ears.