Hi Illinois DECA! It’s Olivia Fisz, your Illinois DECA Association President, and I’m here to give you some of my top tips for achieving DECA success! With competition starting to approach, I’m sure many of you are eager to show off your skills and knowledge at sectionals, state, and hopefully even ICDC. I promise, by getting a head start and beginning your preparation as soon as possible (who knows, maybe some of you already have), you can ensure that you will walk out of your role-play or written presentation proud of your performance.
When I was a freshman, I wasn’t sure of how best to prepare for my first competition. It can be overwhelming, and a bit nerve-wracking, to go into a role-play without being certain what kind of situation you will be presented with. However, I think that is what makes DECA so great - in the real world, you never know what challenges you may face. By learning to think on your feet and confidently present your ideas through your DECA event, you will be ready for success as a future business professional. Therefore, it is absolutely worth the time to study up or practice for DECA competition. Not only that, but I know many of you are motivated by a desire to qualify for ICDC and reach the ultimate achievement of winning DECA glass! So, for all of you looking for some strategies to get you up on that DECA awards ceremony stage, you’re in the right place.
Creativity is key
At every competition, one thing you can be certain of is that your judge will be listening to many members throughout the day. That’s why it’s so helpful to set yourself apart from other competitors by giving your presentation an extra creative aspect that your judge will remember. Creativity is even one of the 21st Century Skills that you’re graded on in role-plays. Yes, some events and role-plays allow for more creativity than others, but there is generally always some way to make your presentation unique. I would start by simply trying to come up with a way to apply a performance indicator or solve a given problem in a way that others may not think of. Can you think of a special event or marketing campaign that your company could utilize? Share that with the judge. Depending on the role-play, a visual aid can also help immensely. With a graphic or other aid you can direct the judge to during your presentation, that automatically gives them something to remember you by. Set yourself apart from the competition!
Project confidence
I know this may seem obvious to some, but being confident during your role-play or written presentation is sometimes easier said than done. Confidence is truly crucial for doing well in your competitive event; it shows the judge that you know what you are talking about and that you are excited to share your knowledge with them. So, in this case, the cliche “fake it till you make it” really applies. Everyone feels nervous before a role-play or presentation, but if you can avoid that feeling from becoming apparent during your presentation, the judge will be impressed with your certainty and professionalism. A few key signals of your confidence that you can focus on are making direct eye contact, using a calm, clear speaking voice, and minimizing stutters. Eye contact is so important! It allows you to connect with your judge and keep your presentation engaging. The way you speak is indicative of how you’re feeling during your role-play as well. Try to speak at a good volume and pace - many people talk super fast or get quiet when they’re nervous. If you’re a person who tends to say “um” a lot, try replacing “um’s” with filler phrases like “that’s a great question”. Overall, it’s important to show your judge that you know what you’re saying, and that you have trust in yourself and your ideas.
Become your role (AKA, get in character)
Next, this strategy is for your role-play. When you’re given your role in the beginning of your prep period, I want you to really immerse yourself in that role. For the next ten to fifteen minutes, you are a financial advisor, marketing director, or any other position you’re placed in. Start off strong by introducing yourself to your judge with whatever title you’ve been given (“Hi, I’m Olivia, the financial advisor here at X Company”). This will reinforce the role you’re taking on, both in your judge's mind and your own. Also, use any language you know of that you think someone with your role would use. Familiarizing yourself with common business jargon or basic terminology can be incredibly useful during your presentation. Additionally, you can spend some time learning about current events and news that has to do with your event category. Referencing something going on in the real world (as long as it actually connects to your role-play, don’t force it) can demonstrate to your judge that you have a strong working knowledge of the topic you are speaking about.
Study for the test
Please, don’t forget about the test! It can be easy to focus on doing your best and preparing yourself for your role-play, and that is of course important, but the test counts for a large part of your final score as well. Studying for the test in advance of competition can really boost your overall score. To study, I recommend using the internet to your advantage. There are an abundance of resources online, from practice tests to Quizlets. Simply Google your event name practice tests or vocabulary, and you will have plenty to work on. You can also use websites like Investopedia to learn more about specific concepts that you may need to know. If your chapter has it, DECA+ is a fantastic resource as well, with practice tests, flashcards, and more! Trust me, practicing with just a few questions every night or doing a few full practice tests during the week in the weeks leading up to competition makes a big difference. Also, a tip for when you’re actually taking your test: try not to agonize over a single question. There are 99 other questions, so it’s not worth the time it takes to struggle with a single question for more than a minute or two. If you don’t know it, circle the question or put down your best guess and come back later. I know testing isn’t fun for many people, but you got this!
Be thorough and organized
Another strategy for your role-play is making sure you keep your thoughts and ideas organized. If you have a clear flow of information as you present to your judge, they will easily be able to process your suggestions and knowledge. For me, the best way to organize your thoughts is by the performance indicators. The PI’s are there for a reason! You can treat them as an outline of all of the topics you need to address throughout your role-play. I like to list my performance indicators in my notes and then write down my thoughts for each one underneath. About that: make sure that you say something about every single indicator, no matter what. Even if you don’t know what it means, try to use the vocabulary of the performance indicator at some point. The judges are giving you a grade for each performance indicator, so any mention of an indicator that will get you some points is better than getting none if you ignore it. Finally, be as detailed as you can (within your time limit) when speaking about each performance indicator. The more knowledge and ideas you can show the judge, the better. Demonstrate your expertise, and keep yourself organized so that the judge can understand everything you’re telling them.
I hope you find these tips helpful as you get ready to excel in your events! This is just the beginning - for more strategies and tricks, ask your advisors, chapter presidents, or even other members. Never underestimate the resources you have at your disposal. Good luck, and I can’t wait to see you on the awards stage at IL CDC!
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