Stick with the Plan.  << Go Back

I can’t tell you how many times people about to make a presentation decide, at the last moment, on their way to the podium, to change something crucial.  Often they change the opening.  It happens because a previous speaker gave them a new idea, or just because they had second thoughts.   Here’s the problem with doing that. When you change that late you don’t have a chance to rehearse so you probably won’t have a lot of confidence in what you are going to say. And, when you don’t have confidence, the audience can smell it. I was watching a golf tournament on TV this summer and the golfer, Phil Michelson, was about to hit the ball when he decided to change clubs.  The announcer made an astute observation.  He said “those of you watching at home should never do what Phil just did. When you decide which club you need for the shot, don’t change your mind at the last minute because you won’t have confidence in the new club.  Play the club you picked.” Give the presentation you planned and rehearsed.  You’ll do great.