No, this has nothing to do with superstition, it has to do with the essay. Yes, you have to rehearse, but never, ever stand in front of a mirror to practice your speech. I know many presentation experts will tell you that mirror rehearsals are a good idea. However, as a regular reader of these tips, you’ll know that I don’t always agree with conventional wisdom.

Let me explain. When he speaks to a mirror, he is trying to do two things at the same time: evaluate his speech at the same time that she delivers it. That puts you in the weird position of trying to be audience and presenter. Worse yet, if you follow the good practice of making eye contact with your audience, you won’t see someone reacting to your ideas, you’ll see yourself trying to remember your lines. In short, it is a waste of time.

How about you record yourself on video? Well, that can work, but it can lead to focusing on small gestures, like how often you scratch your nose, which would go unnoticed in front of a live audience. Also, people tend to behave differently in front of a camera.

Which is the answer? You guessed it. Find someone to rehearse with. It should be someone you trust to give you honest feedback. You don’t need to take too much time, as one or two trials is enough. You want to sound fresh when you speak. If you’re alone in a hotel room before a speech, you can rehearse your lines over the phone with a friend. But please, not the mirror.