• Being able to present a speech to an audience is a skill that can make a difference in a person’s life.

• This post covers tips about preparation, delivery, and post delivery of a speech.

• These tips will be useful for anyone who is planning to present a speech.

Over the years of interacting with people who wish to present a speech we have gathered many tips.

Below we have shared the current list.

Please share this list with others.

Let us know if you have any suggestions which we can add to this list.

SPEECH TIPS

1. PREPARATION:

• PROVEN FORMULA:

  • Successful speeches follow this format.

1) OPENING – tell them what you’re going to tell them;

2) BODY – tell them; and

3) CONCLUSION – tell them what you’ve told them.

• • You need an attention-grabbing OPENING.

  • This is followed by a detailed BODY that gets your points across with impact and feeling.

  • You end with a CONCLUSION that is memorable.

• BULLETS:

  • It is not encouraged to write a speech out in longhand like an essay.

  • You won’t remember everything that you wrote.

  • Try to concentrate on delivering your speech instead of reading your notes.

  • Put an outline on note cards with bullets for you to use when practicing your speech.

• TIMING:

  • Know how much time you have available to give the speech.

  • Give a certain amount of time to each speech section.

  • The total should add up to the time available for the speech.

• FLOW:

  • Have your sentences move smoothly from one to the next.

  • Make a point, say it again in different words, illustrate the point, and then state it once more in order for it to be clearly understood.

  • Do not have any sudden jolts or unexplained changes in your speech.

• STORIES AND IMAGES:

  • Use stories to explain your message.

  • Enable the audience to follow your story as though they were living it with you.

  • Create “word pictures” in your speech, to help create a picture of what you are speaking about.

• HUMOR:

  • Use appropriate humor to reinforce your main points and get your message across.

  • Do not use ‘canned’ jokes.

  • The audience who laughs with you also likes you.

• CONVERSATIONAL STYLE:

  • Present your speech as if you were telling it to a friend.

  • Use everyday language, short sentences, and memorable words.

  • A conversational delivery style helps you “talk” to your audience.

  • Write speeches for the ear, not for the eyes.

• MENTOR:

  • Take time and discuss your speech with your mentor.

  • Ask her/him to help you with your speech.

• PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!

  • Find someone you trust who you know will be honest, fair and helpful with their feedback.

  • Practice with a family member, a friend, or a club member.

• RECORD:

  • If you can record your speech do that when you are practicing.

  • Watch the recording to help you improve your speech before you deliver it.

• RELAXING:

  • Find techniques that you can use to relax before a speech.

  • Try deep breathing, listening to music or shrugging your shoulders as examples. 

2. DELIVERY:

• APPEARANCE:

  • Wear clothes that are appropriate for your audience and the occasion.

  • Do not wear anything that will distract the audience’s attention.

• APPROACH:

  • Go to  the front of the room with a spring in your step.

  • This shows that your are happy to be there.

  • With gratefulness, shake the hand of your introducer.

• RELAX:

  • When you take your place in front of the audience, stand in a comfortable way with good posture.

  • Look at your audience and smile.

  • Take a few deep breaths before starting to speak.

• GREETING:

  • Address the Meeting Leader, your fellow members and any guests.

• TIMER:

  • Look for the Timer. (This is the person tracking the time of the speech.)

  • You can do this when you are greeting the audience.

• PAUSES:

  • Use pauses to help you emphasize something in your speech.

  • Well timed pauses help to emphasize key points, create drama and interest in the audience.

  • Pausing also shows you are self-confident and in control.

• GESTURES:

  • Use body movement, gestures and facial expressions when appropriate.

  • This adds impact to your speech.

  • At first don’t worry about your hands. Leave them to your side. This improves with practice.

• EYE CONTACT:

  • Establish one-on-one eye contact and smile at your audience.

  • This allows you to see the audience.

  • It keeps listeners alert and enables you to “read” audience reaction.

• VOCAL VARIETY:

  • To add interest and to emphasize portions of your speech, change your voice.

  • A whisper can be very effective.

  • You can use a loud voice, laughter and other emotional expressions.

  • Take time to breathe which helps you project your voice and improve your vocal variety.

• PERSONALITY:

  • Use any natural talents and assets you have to inject your personality into your speech.

• ENERGY:

  • Imagine you are talking with a friend.

  • Enthusiasm and high energy are important.

  • Make it interesting by stressing words and using natural hand gestures and facial expressions.

• PASSION:

  • The more you show your interest in the topic the more effect it will have on the audience.

• TIMING:

  • Look at the time to ensure you are not going overtime.

  • When we go overtime, we throw the meeting’s schedule off.

• DON’T WORRY

  • Don’t be afraid of the audience.Think of them as friends who want you to succeed and are eager to help you.

  • Only you know the speech you want to deliver.

  • The audience does not know what you want to say.

  • If you miss a word, a sentence, or change something in your speech, nobody will ever know, except you.

  • Don’t worry about getting every single sentence as you originally intended it to be while practicing.

  • You want to deliver your speech such that you convey the spirit of your planned speech.

• CLOSING:

  • Remember that the closing of the speech is what the audience will remember the most.

  • Do not say ‘Thank you.’

  • Hand the meeting back to the Meeting Leader or the person who introduced you.

  • Shake their hand.

  • Smile and return to your seat feeling pleased that you have had another opportunity to grow as a speaker.

3. AFTER SPEAKING:

• FEEDBACK:

  • Listen carefully to all feedback available.

  • Make notes of those suggestions that can assist you.

  • Understand that everyone has different ideas and some may not work for you.

  • Everyone has their own perception and opinion.

  • Not everyone hears the same message.

• OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Every time you give a speech it is another chance for you to learn, grow and develop as a speaker.

  • The more times you give a speech, the better and stronger you get at it and the less nervous you will be. 

       BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR ABILITIES!!!

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please contact us.

Please see the “How Can You Help?” section below.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

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A PARENT’S GUIDE:

There is a guide available which assists parents and others working with youth.

The guide enables a person to be proactive in the success of a child’s future.

It contains activities to assist youth to gain critical soft skills.

They will become more resourceful and independent when they practice and gain these skills.

The guide is available from Our Future Leaders.

Request the Parent’s Guide here: http://www.ourfutureleaders.ca/contact-us/

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A WONDERFUL FUTURE.

What are you going to do to assist children to become our future leaders?

Fred Jones

Victoria, BC Canada

Fred Jones