Writing A Great Speech...

To write a great speech you must:

1. Determine what you want the audience to do upon hearing your speech. This is your conclusion.
2. Decide why the audience should listen to you in the first place. This is your introduction.
3. Prove this to the audience. This is the body of your speech."

Robert Cockburn, DTM

Delivering a great speech is the stuff
that dreams are made of. But first,
you have to ensure it challenges the
audience to do something.

"Merely to make a speech is not enough. The speech must mean something, lead to something, stir up someone to do or attempt something. Every speech should be directed to the accomplishment of some definite purpose. No one needs to waste time on unimportant themes."

Dr. Ralph Smedley

Write a Great Speech

in 5 - 7 Minutes

Does the thought of writing and delivering a speech terrify you? Most people share your fear. But why remain scared of public oratory when the solution to this age old problem is so simple? Follow these simple speaking tips and you'll be ready to present a decent speech next week.

First, take a deep breath and relax your mind. Your challenge is to speak to an audience about a topic that you know something about. In other words, you will be sharing your knowledge in a conversational manner with people who are interested in what you have to say. Here's a relaxation tip. Arrive early for a presentation. Meet everyone in the audience that you can. Now you're suddenly talking to acquaintances and not total strangers.

Second, break down the elements of your speech. A simple technique to use in your opening is the Attention Grabber Question! Ask the audience a question that will force them to respond either aloud or to themselves. This will get people involved with your topic and provide you with the positive feedback you need to share a quality message. Decide on three main body points that you want to cover. You may even choose three stories or anecdotes to use as the body points. That will make audience sharing even easier. The goal is to make you feel like you're telling a story to a friend. The only difference is that you're telling the story to ten, twenty, fifty or one hundred friends!

Finally, your conclusion must challenge, issue a call to action, or motivate your audience to do something positive with the information that you've just shared. The conclusion is the most frequently abused piece of a speech. The speaker typically hurries to finish and leaves out a profound bit of wisdom that the audience needs and wants.

Speakers Beware - Don't try to memorize your speech word for word. If you lose your place and grasp for the exact word that makes up your script you may draw a mind blank and panic. SOUNDS FAMILIAR? Here’s a tip - “Share, but don't recite your information.

Let's look at a simple speech topic that can quickly be developed into a complete presentation. Suppose you want to talk about container gardening. An Attention Grabber Question might be, "How many of you have a green thumb?" "Well neither did I until I started dropping plants into pots." Audience members will either answer yes or no to the green thumb question. You have their involvement at this point in the beginning.

Your three main body points may feature three different types of plants you have successfully grown in containers. For added impact, show pictures of your work or bring a sample of your passion for gardening. Props always add another dimension to your presentations. Let your excitement about the topic fuel your words.

In the conclusion, simply tell the audience how easy it is to begin container gardening. You may even give them resources to explore for more information. This leaves the audience members with valuable advice that they can use after leaving the room.

For beginning orators, consider taking a three by five note card to the lectern. The card should only feature the Attention Grabber Question, the three main body points, and the profound conclusion that sends the audience home feeling content and fulfilled. Glance at the card only to keep order. Make an effort to look at each audience member. Use a sweeping eye movement so that you're sharing the information with everyone in the room. As you gain confidence as a speaker, you can experiment with hand gestures, vocal variety and body movement. These skills will develop with practice.

When you get that next speech assignment, decide to share and not recite your wisdom. Break down the elements of the presentation. Don't let the project overwhelm you. Make sure you give the audience members something to take home. You are offering some information that they can use. With a positive, sharing attitude, you can knock out a quality presentation in only 5 - 7 minutes!

10 Tips!

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here’s how you can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations:

1. Know your material: Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use personal stories and conversational language - that you won't easily forget what to say. If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and revise it if necessary

2. Practice, Practice, and Practice: Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary.

3. Know the audience: Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.

4. Know the room: Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.

5. Relax: Ease tension by doing exercises. Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

6. Visualize yourself giving your speech: Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be SUCCESSFUL. Visualize the audience clapping - it will boost your confidence.

7. Realize that people want you to succeed: Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail.

8. Don’t apologize: If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience’s attention to something they hadn’t noticed. Keep silent.

9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium: Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.

10. Gain experience: Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.