As American actress and performer Dorothy听Sarnoff once declared, 鈥榤ake sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening.鈥� This quote perfectly encapsulates the power of a great speech – one that has a profound impact on the audience and leaves them thinking. As anyone who has had to write and deliver a speech before knows, this is no easy feat.听听
Public speaking is an inevitable part of schooling and one that often brings great angst. It鈥檚 a daunting task to speak in front of听your听peers,听but it鈥檚 just like anything that requires practice. The more you do it, the more confident you become. Who knows, you may听actually learn听to enjoy it. Try to think of public speaking less in terms of what others may think of you (because let鈥檚 face it, they鈥檒l be more concerned with their own speech), and more as an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, build confidence speaking in front of others and develop your own voice.听听
Here are听seven听easy听steps to听help you prepare and deliver听a听memorable听speech.听
1. Draw inspiration
Listen to, watch and read a variety of speeches. Start with some famous examples听鈥撎�听听.鈥櫶鼵onsider听what makes听each听an effective speech. Is it the engaging or relatable subject matter? The powerful tone of voice or use of hand gestures? How the speaker uses humour coupled听with moments of more serious contemplation?听Note the topic,听the purpose听and听how the audience is made to feel.听This background work听should听invigorate you to write your own great speech听and听give you some concrete tips for your delivery.听听
2. Consider your subject matter
Ideally you will have some choice in the topic of your speech and hopefully it will be听of interest.听If this is听not the case (such as an assigned topic or a debate), try and find an element that does interest you听and听think of听it听as a听learning听opportunity. If you鈥檙e speaking about a topic that has been widely spoken about before, try and find a fresh angle听or听take on the topic. Think about how it will benefit you听and听your listeners – you鈥檒l enjoy the process more.听
3. Have a clear purpose
So,听you鈥檝e got your topic. Now it鈥檚 time to consider your purpose. Are you trying to听convince听your audience of your point of view or are you educating your listeners on a听particular topic? Regardless of the style of your speech, consider what you want your audience to think about, learn, believe and FEEL. This is your chance – whether it鈥檚 ten minutes, five or two – to share your voice and听move听your audience into doing, thinking or believing something that is important to you. As you write your speech, keep returning to your overall purpose. Ask yourself, am I听achieving this goal?听听
4. Consider your audience
As听well as听thinking about what you want to say,听it鈥檚 important to听think about what听matters to your audience.听How will you make the content engaging and relatable to your listeners? Why should they care about this听particular topic? How might it affect their lives? If you want to grab and sustain audience听attention, their interests and priorities should be at the forefront of your mind. Also consider how your language might change depending on your audience. The register and tone of your speech听will听differ听for听a room full of primary school students听compared with听adults.听听
5. Do your research
The amount of evidence your speech requires will largely depend upon the purpose and style of your speech. For example, if you are preparing a speech on climate change, you will want to include extensive data that demonstrates the impact on the environment. However, don鈥檛 limit yourself to facts and figures. Statistics are helpful and certainly show that you鈥檝e done your research. But听remember your audience. Will listing off numbers and percentages sustain their interest?听Include听some expert opinions, quotations, contrasting points of view or historical references听to听add weight to your arguments听and听affect your listeners on an emotive level.听听
6. Plan your structure
The structure of a speech is very similar to the structure of an essay, and just as important. Your audience听is听relying on听you and your voice听to clearly guide them through your main ideas or arguments.听听
- Opening: Start strongwith听a powerful opening to hook your audience (such as a famous quote, a rhetorical question, a funny anecdote or a short, sharp sentence to make your audience think). Avoid predictable openings such as 鈥楬ello, my name is鈥︹�� (your classmates should know who you are!) Then, clearly identify your topic and include some context. Acknowledge your audience and relate the subject matter to them.听
- Body: Just like essay paragraphs, the body of your speech should contain your main points. Use topic sentences to signpost when you are beginning a new idea. Linking words such as 鈥榝irstly, secondly, finally,鈥櫶齝anhelp your listeners to follow along. The body of your speech is where you might include some language devices (such as persuasive techniques) to convince your audience of your point of view.听听
- Closing: The conclusion of a speech is so much more than a summary. These are your final moments to impart your words of wisdom or mobilise your audience into action. Consider a strong closing line and whether there is anything further you want your audience to do or think about. You want them to continue reflecting after you have finished your speech.听
7. Practise, practise, practise!
Depending upon the length of your speech and your experience, you may choose to write out your speech in full or simply use dot-points to guide your delivery. Personally, I prefer to write out my speeches in full and听then听condense them down to key ideas on cue cards as prompts. Regardless of your preference, until you鈥檙e a seasoned speaker, cue cards are a听really helpful听aid. Even just the process of writing cue cards will help you familiarise yourself with your material and clarify your main ideas.听听
Remember听the听task is to give a speech, not to read aloud an essay. You want to听connect听with your audience – using eye contact, body language, gestures and the tone and volume of your voice. It鈥檚 very hard to do this if you鈥檙e reading off an A4 piece of paper. If you鈥檙e feeling particularly nervous about speaking, you could even jot down on cue cards places in your speech听to听make eye contact, increase your volume or take a pause for emphasis.听
Everyone knows the听old adage听鈥榩ractice makes perfect.鈥櫶齊ather than striving for perfection,听however,听focus on progress. Think of practice as the key to building confidence and giving yourself the best chance to feel happy with your speech. It doesn鈥檛 matter where or听with听whom you practise – in the mirror, to your friends,听family听or听pet听–听the more you rehearse, the more familiar you will be with the content,听and the more confident and natural听your听delivery听will be.听
Lastly, remember that the speech you have written is a gift to your audience – of your time, energy and thoughtfulness. Be proud of what you have put together. Step forward in the knowledge that you and your voice matter and have the power to effect change.听
