Week 8

Students chatting and signing papers in an auditorium.

Exercise 8.1: Continue rehearsing. (as much time as you need)

If the final competition is the same day or a couple of days after the preliminary rounds, you probably do not need to do any rehearsals with friends. You will know which parts of your talk feel bumpy so focus on those.

If more than a week will pass, I suggest one or two rehearsals with friends. Keep in mind you are not making substantive changes to the structure of your talk. These rehearsals are about connecting with your audience and optimizing your delivery.

Work on making eye contact with people in the audience. Practice your strong start -- can you make it stronger? If you include humor, is it coming across to the audience as you intend? This time is all about polish.

Exercise 8.2: Arrive early to introduce yourself to the judges and other students. (15-20 min)

Revisiting my advice from Week 7, arrive at the finals a little early and introduce yourself to the other competitors. They are likely to be as nervous as you, and by greeting them you are creating warm, friendly energy. That gentle gesture creates comfort for you and them in a high-stress environment. Instead of a room full of unknown enemies, you now have people you can greet by name. Also, remember that you can leverage these new acquaintances by making eye contact with them during your talk!

A professional woman giving a presentation on mental health to colleagues.

Exercise 8.3: Deliver your GRC talk. (5 min)

If you have followed this guide, and done (most of) the exercises, you are prepared. Trust yourself, and have fun. Do your best, and the rest will follow.

A woman raises her hand during a group meeting with diverse attendees.

Exercise 8.4: Observe and support other students as they present. (1-2 hours)

If you need a reminder about why and how to support other students, you can find a refresher in Exercise 7.4.

Person selecting a five-star happy face rating on a digital interface.

8.5: Request feedback. (15 min)

Contact the organizer of the preliminary rounds and request the judges’ feedback.

Pro Tip: Reach out to the organizers in advance requesting feedback so that they can be prepared. If you ask after the fact, and they did not collect any documentation from the judges, you may be out of luck.

Three friends enjoying a lively conversation at an outdoor cafe.

8.6: Reward yourself. (time varies)

Go do something that makes you very, very happy!

Progress chart for GRC week 8 preparation with script, slides/props, and physical presence.

Congratulations!

You made it. How do you feel? How did you do?

Whether you won first place, the Audience Choice award, or perhaps nothing this time, take a moment and celebrate all you have done.

Remember, even if you do not win, 80% of the competitors that I interviewed participated in a GRC more than once, so consider whether that is an option for you.

If Take First! was an important part of your preparation for your GRC, I would love to hear about your experience. Please feel free to contact me at take.first.in.your.grc@gmail.com. I promise to reply! (Unless your message goes to my Junk/Spam folder and I don't know it is there.) ;-)