Episode 194 - How To Memorise A Presentation

<p class="p3"><strong>Summary</strong></p> <p class="p4">This week we’re exploring an ancient technique to help you memorise a presentation with numerous points in a set order.</p> <p class="p5"> </p> <p class="p3"><strong>Transcript</strong></p> <p class="p4">Hello and welcome to episode 194 of the Leadership Today podcast where each week we share practical tips to improve your leadership. This week we’re exploring an ancient technique to help you memorise a presentation with numerous points in a set order.</p> <p class="p4">Think about the best presenters you’ve seen. Were they constantly checking their notes, or reading off PowerPoint slides? Probably not. There’s nothing wrong with having notes, but it is compelling and indeed freeing to be able to present your ideas in a clear sequence without notes.</p> <p class="p4">Today we’re going to explore a mnemonic or memory technique that is perfectly suited to storing away numerous points in a particular order.</p> <p class="p4">Many of us would say we don’t have a great memory, but the problem is usually the initial storage of the memory rather than recall of the memory. For thousands of years people have used various techniques to store memories in a way that makes them easier to retrieve. One approach that’s particularly effective is the Memory Palace, also known as the Method of Loci (or location). I’ve used this approach to memorise presentations up to 30 minutes long comfortably without needing to use notes. I really don’t consider myself to have special memory abilities. This technique really makes it quite easy.</p> <p class="p4">The first thing you need to do when using the Memory Palace technique is to think of a location with various way points that you know well. For example, I use the house I currently live in, storing points away in rooms and locations in a set path through the house. It could be a path you regularly walk that has clear landmarks and objects along the way. Ideally you will use this same path for every presentation you want to remembe