You are standing in front of a room full of potential clients. Everyone is seated on
edge of their chair. Your introducer eloquently conveys your credentials. The room is quiet, and full of anticipation. It is time for you to begin. You stand, knowing you must catch and hold attention, convey confidence and share your ideas. You are well-prepared and feel at ease. You know you have a stellar presentation, worked out kinks in your delivery and have incorporated success strategies on how to write and deliver a great speech.Tips for Writing a Great Speech
1. The first step is to ask yourself what you hope to accomplish with your presentation. Without an outcome in mind, your speech may be bland and even boring. Once you know what you hope to accomplish, you can begin.
2. Decide major "must make points" of your presentation. Do not over pack your presentation with information. If your speech is less than thirty minutes, do not have more than five major points you want to convey. When you are giving a speech in an effort to get clients you want to also do following: 1. Inform your audience on your subject 2. Establish yourself as an expert and a resource 3. Encourage your audience to take action
3. Unless you are a comedian, do not open with a joke. Leave humor to humorists. Instead, open and close with a story - everybody loves stories.
4. When it comes to speaking and storytelling stick with what you know. Do not tell a story about something that is unfamiliar to you. When telling a personal story paint pictures for audience with your words. Describe colorful images audience can see in their minds.
5. Until you are an experienced confident speaker, write your speech out completely. After writing it out completely, edit it, then go through it again and take out any words or phrases that seem unnecessary.
6. Bring your whole speech to podium or front of room. Make sure you number pages in a large size font, so you will not mix them up. Write a shorter outline for quick reference.
7. Regardless of topic, use quotes. Audiences like quotes. Use interesting sources that audience can relate to and refrain from quoting dead presidents.
8. Anecdotes, current event items and facts that you can reference can add credibility and interest to your presentation.
9. Check on pronunciation and grammar questions. Be confident that everything you say is accurate.
10. Keep sentences short so you can breath in right places.
11. Consider tape recording your speech in your own voice and playing it over and over to accelerate learning. The better you know your speech and more you have practiced, more you-- and your audience-- will enjoy it.
Tips for a Great Delivery 1. ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY SPEECH FILLERS from your communication. Fillers are words and phrases such as "umm," "well," "it is sort-a like," "it's kind-a like." These take away from message you want to convey. Some of words and phrases to eliminate include: "you know," "I think," "I'm sorry," "just," "but," "should," "like," "um," and, "a," etc.
2. USE THE POWERFUL PAUSE. Do not be afraid to have a moment of silence between sentences. A pause, after a thought and prefacing a response to a question holds attention of listener.
3. BREATHE from diaphragm. Breathe deeply and often.
4. PACE YOURSELF. Do not talk too fast or too slow.
5. PHYSICALLY POSITION YOURSELF POWERFULLY. Be aware of your posture when you speak. Slouching, tilting your head and crossing your arms or legs diminishes message. Stand up straight, shoulders down, feet firmly planted and knees unlocked.
6. PROJECT YOUR PRESENCE. Your voice is herald that carries your message. Speak from your diaphragm not your throat. Keep sound in low- to- medium range. This projects authority. Speak loudly enough to be easily heard. Focus on speaking with enthusiasm, and energy and create color with your voice.
