Are You Over (or Under) Preparing for Presentations?
Ed Darling | 4 min read
Last updated: 06/06/20256
The Myth of Over-Preparing for Presentations
“Don’t over-prepare your talk”
You might have heard this warning. But if it’s such a problem, why don’t musicians, actors, or comedians worry about “over preparing”?
As an actor I’d often spend weeks rehearsing for opening night, memorising every line and movement until they felt second nature. Yet we delivered each performance as if it was the first time.
Watch the video.
The truth is, over-preparation isn’t the problem. Preparing in the wrong way is.
In the post, I’ll explain the key differences, the common traps to avoid, and exactly how to prepare for your next speaking opportunity
Preperation, Perfectionism, and Procrastination.
The run-up to giving a presentation is often filled with anxiety. When we’re anxious, we tend to prepare in unhelpful ways.
– Spending hours tweaking the slides
– Obsessively thinking about worst-case scenarios
– Trying to memorise every line
– Putting it off to the very last minute
These bad habits waste huge amounts of time and energy – and after all that, you STILL don’t feel ready to speak with confidence!
The trick is to avoid the pitfalls of perfectionism or procrastination, and channel those nerves into positive actions which build genuine confidence.
But first, let’s take step back and ask two questions:
1. How high are the stakes? If there’s a lot on the line for this talk, it’s going to rightly demand more time and effort vs. a casual team presentation.
2. How nervous will you be? If you’re like to be extremely anxious, it’s helpful to be even more thorough when preparing. As your confidence grows, you naturally need less.
With that said, let’s explore three preparation strategies, and share some key tips along the way.
The "Lets Just Wing It" Strategy
Inexperienced speakers often think they can get away with “speaking off the cuff”. Then suddenly they’re facing an audience, the nerves kick in, and their mind goes blank.
It’s almost never a good strategy to wing it. While some people might make it look easy, it’s usually because they’ve had years of practise.
As Mark Twain famously said: “It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.”
That’s not to say you shouldn’t practise speaking off the cuff. It’s a brilliant skill that builds core confidence, and means you’re ready for anything. Broken slides? No problem. Audience questions? Handled with ease.
Improvised speaking is something I practise with all of my clients. But we do this alongside thoroughly preparing for talks and presentations.
That way, they can shine in the Q&A, they can handle any mishaps, but they also deliver their core message with absolute clarity.
Next, let’s look at the opposite end of the spectrum: the “Over Preparation” strategy.
The "Over Preparation" Strategy.
When the stakes and your nerves are both high – you want to walk into the room knowing you’ve everything to be ready.
Imagine you’re tasked with delivering an annual presentation to the board. Here’s what that might look like.
Stage 1: Plan (6 Weeks Out)
– Ask the right questions: What does your audience need? What’s your core message? What’s the context you’ll need to share?
– Gather your ideas: Write down any stories, statistics, examples, or metaphors that support your key points. Give yourself time to think, and note down all your ideas.
Stage 2: Structure (4 Weeks Out)
Next, we want to structure all those ideas into a clear talk that lands your message. That doesn’t mean writing out a script. Instead, it means following a framework:
– An engaging opener to capture attention, and a clear introduction that builds authority.
– 3–5 sections that flow seamlessly, and allow your audience to follow along.
– A strong summary that underlines your key messages, and leaves people with a call to action.
When we start with a structure rather than a script, it makes your presentation easier to write, easier to remember, and easier for the audience to understand. Now, it’s time to rehearse.
Stage 3: Rehearse (2 Weeks Out)
– Practice on your feet, speaking aloud as if you’re audience is in the room.
– Find the right moments to add specific gestures, stage movements, or vocal changes that emphasise your key points. As you practise these while rehearsing out loud, they’ll become muscle memory.
– Ideally, get feedback from a colleague or coach to fine-tune your delivery. If that’s not an option, record yourself and watch back to make sure there’s nothing you’re missing.
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Preparing For More Casual Talks
Not every talk requires 6-weeks of rehearsal. What if you’re giving a casual update, or just being asked to “say a few words”?
In these situations, here’s what I’d recommend.
Like before, structure always beats scripting. Plan out your main points, think about any stories, example, or specifics you want to include, and order them from start to finish.
This might look as simple as:
1. Current numbers
2. Main challenges
3. Client story
4. Next Steps
Next, practise speaking out loud, using just your bullet pointed list. See how it sounds in your voice, note down what works, and slowly begin to find your flow. We’re aiming to internalise the talk, not memorise it. You might use slightly different words and phrases each time, but the overall structure and message stays consistent.
Preparation Powers Effective Presentations
Without the stress of trying to write the perfect script, memorise every line, or second-guessing yourself at every step, the process of preparing a talk become far more enjoyable.
When you learn to prepare the right way, there’s no such thing as “over preparation” – you just get more clear, and more confident, with every repetition.
But preparing alone can be a challenge, which is why having a public speaking coach in your corner can be so helpful. My clients are often preparing for all kinds of talks – keynotes, panels, pitches… But when they work with me, we remove the complexity, refine their message, and create a speech they’re excited to share.
If you’re ready to up your game, and walk into your next presentation feeling 100% prepared, book a call and let’s have a chat.
To your public speaking success,
Ed
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