Reading vs. improvising? Guidelines for not using scripts in your presentations by Pilar Ortiz
Does it work to write scripts every time we have a presentation? Not always. And that's why today we are going to talk about a technique that works for improvising, without scripts.
For some reason, most of my clients want to write down everything they want to communicate in their presentations.
From my experience, I have been able to identify that this is an inconvenient practice, in specific cases. Usually, it limits and puts us in a "box" we cannot get out from; it makes us depend on a text.
Today, I am going to share with you what I call: Thinking like a journalist. What is it? How does it work? Well, let's start.
Thinking like a journalist is a technique that has worked for me and many other professionals.
Journalists are prone to improvise all the time. When last-minute news appears, we have no choice but to turn on the camera or computer and report the event immediately.
How do we do it? By using what is in our head. Structuring ideas into segments, and communicating as punctually and concretely as possible.
There is no time to write scripts, we have to go live immediately.
For this, it is essential to be in tune with our topic, to understand the concepts, and feed our mental keyword bank.
It doesn't matter if you are not a journalist. This technique will help you spend less time writing scripts for presentations or videos and be more effective with your message.
How to start implementing it?
The main thing is to think about the key ideas or benefits of your message. Whether for a presentation in front of hundreds of people or a one-on-one conversation, the keywords will always be the same.
If they are clear in your head, they can be shared without a problem. By this point, you may be thinking that you don't have much to say or perhaps that you don't know how to order your ideas in the most effective way possible. But let's take it one step at a time. I am here to help you.
The second technique I am going to teach you is to write a list of ten keywords. This can be categorized according to the audience you will be talking to.
This is an element that will help you improvise anywhere and anyhow. You will see that when you use it you will want to write to tell me about it.
With these elements, every time you have a presentation, you will be able to be natural and fluid. You won't need to read or write scripts.
This does not mean that you should not prepare. On the contrary, prior practice is essential. It doesn't mean it will always come out the same, but it will give you the confidence to be authentic.
Another time I will show you how and when to make scripts. For now, share this text or comment on your experience with scripts and improvisation in presentations.
