THE VOICE ROOM™ PODCAST

00:02 Welcome to the Voice Room podcast, where conversations come alive and voices find their power. Whether you're a student, a young professional, or just someone eager to communicate with confidence, you're in the right place. Now, get ready to dive into insights on voice, speech, and the art of impactful communication with your host, voice and presentation expert, Carina Tien.

00:28 Hey there and welcome back to the Voice Room Podcast. I'm your host, Carina Tien.

00:31 In today's episode, we are tackling something we all experience: the dreaded moment when you forget your presentation flow. You're in front of your audience, ready to share amazing stories, and then, BOOM! Your mind goes blank.

01:15 It’s not just about bouncing back from that moment it’s about understanding why it happens and how to handle it when it does. Spoiler alert! Even the pros deal with this.

01:26 According to a study from the National Communication Association, about 75% of people feel nervous before speaking in public. Even more interesting, around 70% experience a memory lapse during their presentations.

02:12 This is totally normal. When we are nervous, our brains go into fight-or-flight mode, causing cortisol levels to spike. This impacts memory, focus, and recall, making it harder to keep your flow intact.

02:50 So if you forget your words in the middle of a presentation, it’s not because you didn’t prepare it’s because your body is reacting to stress.

03:12 Instead of just reacting to a slip-up, let’s focus on building memory resilience. It’s not about memorizing every single word think of your presentation like a story with key points that guide you from start to finish.

04:12 Here are some exercises to help strengthen your memory and keep you calm under pressure:

1. Mind Palace Technique: Picture a familiar place and link different parts of your presentation to different rooms. As you mentally walk through your space, each room represents a section of your talk.

2. Rehearse Out Loud, Changing the Order: Practice your presentation in a non-linear fashion to help your brain stay flexible.

3. Chunking Method: Break your presentation into smaller chunks with specific points. Mastering transitions between chunks helps you feel more in control.

06:39 Forgetting your flow isn’t the end of the world. Making mistakes can actually make you more relatable and authentic. When you show vulnerability, your audience will connect with you on a human level.

07:08 Remember, audiences love authenticity. There’s a famous quote by Brené Brown: "Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen."

07:36 If you forget your presentation flow, it is not a disaster it’s an opportunity to reset, recalibrate, and show your authentic self.

08:06 I would love to hear from you. What's your strategy when you lose your flow? Share your thoughts on social media or DM me on Instagram at The Voice Room.

08:34 If today’s episode helped you, don’t forget to subscribe, share it with friends, and leave a comment or review. Follow us on Instagram for more tips and behind-the-scenes content.

09:11 Thank you so much for listening. Until next time, keep your voice strong, your mind clear, and your flow steady.

References & Resources from This Episode:

Proficient Enough?

(https://www.natcom.org/publications-library/proficient-enough/)

If you’re in Singapore and looking for expert voice and speech training, explore our voice training Singapore and voice and speech training Singapore services.

Hear these tips in my voice and learn more about handling presentation challenges — listen to The Voice Room Podcast episode, "When You Forget Your Presentation Flow" here.

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