How to Memorize Talking Points in a Speech
According to Gallup News Service, 40 percent of Americans fear public speaking. Take the anxiety out of public presentations by preparing and memorizing talking points. Talking points are the key concepts and ideas that you wish to convey to your audience. Do not worry about memorizing your entire speech. In fact, committing your speech to memory will make you appear robotic and boring. Knowing that you are well prepared will help you relax and make the most of your time with the audience.
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Outline Your Speech
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Begin by writing an outline of the basic concepts that you need to communicate. Create your talking points by identifying key words and phrases to illustrate your point. If you are incorporating visual aids into your presentation, let the visuals guide you to your talking points. Write your talking points on index cards to use during practice sessions.
Techniques
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Color-code the key words in your talking points on your practice notes. For example, highlight the key words in your introduction in blue. Highlight the key words in the next section of your speech in a different color, and so on. Associating the colors with a particular talking point will reinforce your memory. Visualize other mental images, pictures or symbols that you connect with your concepts. In addition, your visual aids will help you to remember the flow of your talk.
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Practice
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Rehearse your speech daily in front of a mirror and with friends, coworkers or family. Use your color-coded note cards and focus on mental imagery. Concentrate on memorizing small bits of your presentation at one time. After you have committed one part of your speech to memory, move on to the next concept. Allow plenty of time before the day of your presentation to practice. The more you repeat your talking points, the better you will remember each point.
How to Recover If You Do Forget
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No one is perfect, and no matter how well you practice, you may still blank out on a talking point. If this occurs, repeat your last point. Backing up to the last point of your speech can jog your memory and allow you to move on. If that does not help, discuss the main ideas in your presentation. Do not simply stop talking. Your audience most likely will not notice if you continue speaking on the topic. Being well prepared can help you to recover gracefully from any mishaps that may happen during your presentation.
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References
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