Lecture on Practice and Preparation

Importance of Preparation

• Preparation is crucial for impactful communication.
• Jim Collins Quote: "The signature of mediocrity is chronic inconsistency."
  • Mediocrity is not about unwillingness to change but inconsistency.

Amateur vs Professional Approach

• Professionals:
  • Approach preparation and practice with dedication.
  • Choose to "suffer alone" during practice to excel in actual performance.
  • Example:
    • Professional golfers and actors practice intensely alone to perform effortlessly in front of an audience.

Pottery School Story

• Teacher's experiment with grading:
  • One group graded on best-finished piece.
  • Second group graded on total weight of production.
• Outcome:
  • Group graded by weight produced more spectacular pots.
  • Emphasizes the value of consistent practice and creation.

Application to Communication

• Practice makes perfect: First attempts won't be as good as repeated efforts.
• Use modern tools:
  • Webcam on computers and smartphones for practice.
  • Record and review speeches to improve.

Systematic Preparation Approach

• Encourage daily practice using webcams.
• Aim for systematic and consistent preparation.
• Avoid first-time speech delivery in front of important audiences.

Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers"

• 10,000 hours of practice:
  • Key to achieving world-class skills.
  • Example: Leo Messi's daily practice in football, Gary Kasparov in chess.
  • World-class achievement requires more than just fulfilling required work.

Developing Professional Practice

• Adopt professional mindset towards preparation.
• Choose to endure the rigor of preparation for excellence.
• Focus on mastery through voluntary, dedicated practice.
• Aim to perform confidently and focus on audience during important occasions.