When presenting, always have a glass of water to hand.

The most obvious benefit is hydration. A moist mouth and throat are vital when we are speaking for longer than usual. A dry mouth feels unpleasant and makes strange noises. A sip of water also gives us an opportunity to pause and allows our audience a moment of silence to absorb our message.

What’s less well known is that all glass of water is your emergency exit. If you lose your thread or talk yourself into a cul-de-sac, then reach for your water. Take a moment, clear your throat and have a sip. This should be all the time you’ll need to gather your thoughts before resuming.

We never used to give advice on how to drink water… until we saw this video of Marco Rubio:

It may seem obvious, but don’t try to drink water without being ‘caught out’. It looks very strange. If you’re thirsty or dry, stop talking for a moment, have some water, then continue with confidence. There’s no shame in taking a sip!

P.S. In our next blog we’ll share an example of someone drinking water well. The person also pauses for a full 11 seconds before answering a question. Too long? Stay tuned to find out!