Help someone rehearse a presentation

This is a list of simple tips for people who have been asked to help a colleague rehearse a presentation. 

Make the rehearsal environment as close as possible to the real thing

If the real thing is going to happen in a meeting room, try and book the same meeting room (or a similar one) for the rehearsal. 

If it’s going to happen online, use the videoconferencing software and the slides software that will be used for the real thing.

Watch, listen, take notes

As a rehearsal-helper, your job is to spot ways that the presenter can improve their presentation, before they actually have to do it for real.

So turn up with pen and paper, and don’t interrupt the presentation once it’s started. Let the presenter go through the whole thing. 

Subtly start a timer when they start, so you can tell them how long they spent doing it.

Take lots of notes as they go. 

You’re looking for anything and everything that could be changed to improve the presentation.

That might mean slide content, it might mean spoken content. It can also mean clarifying sense and tone and spoken style. It can mean body language and vocal tics like “umm” and “ahhh”. 

Talk through the presentation in order

Once the presenter has finished, go through the whole presentation with them in the order that they presented it. 

If you have feedback about specific things, mention them in relation to slide numbers (that will help the presenter with edits).

Be constructive and helpful. Say the things you’d like people to mention to you if you were the one presenting.

Make time for more rehearsals if needed

If you give a pile of feedback and the presenter goes off to make changes, offer to help them rehearse again in a few days. Then you can give constructive feedback on the changes between one rehearsal and the next.

Examples of helpful feedback

Say things like: 

• You keep saying ‘You know’ a lot, try to cut that down if you can.

• The transition from slide 11 to slide 12 was a bit confused - maybe slow down at that point.

• I got confused on slide 6 - is there anything more you can say about that bit?

• You made a joke on slide 20 and it worked, but the one on slide 25 fell a bit flat, maybe take that out.

• I got confused about half way through. I think we need to look at the structure to make sure the message remains clear from that point onwards.

• You didn’t repeat the same words, but the message on slide 9 is basically the same as the one on slide 6 - maybe cut one of them out

• The picture on slide 15 doesn’t seem to align with what you were saying. Were you out of sync, or should we try to find a clearer picture?

• The point you’re making with this presentation is clear, but what do you want the audience to do as a result? Maybe add a slide at the end with some practical next steps.

Remember: you’re there to help the presenter do a better presentation. All your feedback should be constructive steps towards that.