You talk, your words travel into their ears and if they happen to be thinking about what to make for dinner that night, your message will not get through. People don’t listen to speeches in the same way they read books. Keep this purpose at the top of your mind at all times.Ħ-Understand that repetition is mandatory because speaking is analogue, not digital. Write it on a piece of paper and stick it to your bulletin board so you can see it as you’re writing your speech. Instead, express the single key message of your speech - the one important thing you want your audience to be able to remember, for sure - as a single sentence. Human beings are hardwired to appreciate stories and the sooner you stop fighting that fact, the sooner you’ll be able to write a memorable speechĥ-Have a purpose but make it a modest one. Don’t expect your audience to be able to walk away reciting your 10-point corporate plan. I can guarantee that the former was filled with facts and the latter with stories. Think about the worst speech you’ve ever heard in your life. Of course they do! Have you ever listened to Warren Buffett speak? Or Bill Gates? Or Josh Linkner? Stories are the spoonful of sugar that make the medicine (facts) go down. Don’t tell me that business people don’t want to hear stories. I was at my wit’s end until I decided that I’d have to lard his speech with some stories of my own that I could carefully repurpose to make them sound as though they’d come from him. I once interviewed a CEO for whom I’d been hired to write a speech. Stories are “sticky” - that is, people remember them. Mindmapping is the best way for you to make your speech more interesting, more personal and more coherent.Ĥ-Shower your audience with stories rather than drown them in facts. If you have a story (anecdote or example) to illustrate each of your three points, so much the better. If you’re thin on ideas for the three points, consider using a mindmap to help you. Total word count: 2,500 words (20 minutes) Or, in other words, tell people what you’re going to tell them, tell them what you want to say and then wrap up by telling them what you just said. This format is adaptable to a speech of just about any length but I’d divide a 20-minute speech as follows: Your ability to be interesting and to engage with the audience will make up for any small lapses.ģ-No matter how long the speech, always divide it into five parts: an introduction, point 1, point 2, point 3 and a conclusion. Yes, your speech may not be “perfect.” But having a few mistakes is okay if they help you improve your delivery. Memorize an introduction if you like, to help get yourself going but use just notes for the rest. Your delivery will be more interesting and more natural if you speak from notes or an outline rather than a script. Yikes!Ģ-Once you have experience as a speaker, work hard to avoid word-for-word speeches unless you have a teleprompter. Be careful! I once got the math wrong and saddled a good friend with a 48-minute speech when he was trying for 30. Thus, if you’re speaking for 20 minutes, you want a total word count of somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 words. It’s almost always better to speak more slowly than too quickly. So here is my comprehensive guide on how to write and deliver a better speech or presentation: 10 ways to write a better speechġ-Learn your time limit and calculate your word count. The average person speaks at somewhere between 125 and 150 words per minute. I’m also a debate coach at my local high school and spend two hours each week helping grade 8 to 12 students become more comfortable with speaking - arguing, really - in public. Still, I have written many speeches for industry leaders and CEOs. I run lots of workshops and I try to make them engaging and informative but I don’t consider myself the ne plus ultra of public speakers. Ken Robinson, Elizabeth Gilbert and Susan Cain have set a mighty high bar for the rest of us to try to clear. Everyone now expects all public speakers to be as charming, interesting, funny and breathtakingly articulate. I love TED talks, and perhaps you do as well, but be aware of the significant problem they’ve created in our society. Here is everything I know about how to write a better speech and some detailed thoughts on how to deliver a better one as well….
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