How to Remember What You Were Going to Say
Three tips for when you forget what you are going to say next during your speech
When I first started doing public speaking with Toastmasters, I did not know any other way of memori z ing speeches other than writing it out and memorizing the speeches word for word. This worked for me for a while but I actually remember one speech where I lost my way completely and just for the life of me could not recover. Since that point on, I decided that memorizing speeches word for word was certainly not the best way to go because it did not allow for me to fail gracefully in the event that I could not remember my speech. I switched over to memorizing concepts instead and only memorizing quotes or key statements that I needed to get the wording right and while I can't say that I haven't lost my way from time to time, I can say that memorizing concepts has allowed me to fail more gracefully.
How can speakers recover if they forget what they need to say next? Here are three strategies that I have both seen and used when I'm up in front of the audience:
Repeat what you talked about at a high level
Let's just say that you are presenting a speech where you have three main points. You finish talking about point 2 but when you get to point 3, you completely forget what it is. Rather than trying to stumble your way through point 3, you go back and re-iterate point 1 that you talked about and then point 2. It's a way of buying some time to think about what point 3 was AND it might trigger your memory when talking about point 1 and point 2 (similar to how you would have practiced your speech).
Go to your notes
Same situation — you forget your way and forget what point 3 is but you have your notes with you (either at the lectern or somewhere close by). Here is what you can say:
"I am going to stop and take a look at the exact words because I want to get this next part just right"
It gives you a chance to look at your notes, remember your key points and then continue on with your speech.
Memorize your concepts backwards
It sounds weird but it makes a lot of sense — when you remember things in a certain order (number 1, 2 and 3) then number 1 will be fresh in your mind, number 2 a little less and number 3 a little less than 1 and 2. In a weird way, it almost makes sense to spend the time and energy to memorize number 3 and rely on your short term memory for number 1 and 2 — by the time you do your speech, number 1 and 2 will be at the top of your mind and you do not need to spend the time and energy to memorize point number 3 (so you might as well focus on it when you practice).
How to Remember What You Were Going to Say
Source: https://wangyip.medium.com/three-tips-for-when-you-forget-what-you-are-going-to-say-next-during-your-speech-9ba436dee880
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