How to Give a Great Speech
Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking by Following a Few Basic Rules
May 6, 2009
Giving a speech causes emotional and physical distress for many people. With practice, anyone can improve his or her speaking skills
Speaking in front of an audience can be intimidating. The fear of forgetting what to say, anxiety about being evaluated or criticized, or the stress of performing before a crowd lead some to avoid speechmaking at all costs.
There is no need to hide from the microphone, podium, or stage any longer. The following approach will change a dreaded speech into an opportunity to shine.
Steps to Speech Writing
- Know the objectives and expectations of the speech
- Know the time constraints for the speech
- Choose a topic that is interesting and comfortable
- Develop a theme statement that epitomizes the point of the presentation
- Create an outline of ideas that flows naturally from the introduction toward the conclusion
- Write as clearly and concisely as possible
- Avoid excessive jargon and grandiose language
- Begin the speech with a strong introduction that tells the audience what to expect
- The body of the speech should remain focused and reinforce the theme statement
- End the speech with a strong conclusion that tells the audience what they have just heard
- Use anecdotes, quotations, humor, statistics, or examples to emphasize points
- Transitional words and phrases between main topics help the presentation flow
- Visual aids should enhance the speech and not be a distraction
- Slides should not merely be the script of the speech
Steps to Speechmaking
- Practice the speech until it can be given from rote memory
- Practice in front of a mirror and watch for distracting movements or habits
- Practice in front of a friendly audience such as a family member or officemate
- Look confident despite the anxiety: hold the head up, stand tall, shoulders relaxed, and smile
- Maintain good eye contact with everyone present
- Speak to all sides of a large audience, focusing the eyes on multiple points in the venue
- Body language such as hand gestures and movement about the stage help engage the audience
- Speak clearly and pleasantly, with appropriate volume, strength, and expressiveness
How to Vanquish Stage Fright
- Arrive early and get comfortable with the room in which the speech will be given
- Greet and establish a friendly connection with as many audience members as possible
- Know the speech well by practicing beforehand
- Take a moment to relax before given the speech: deep breathing exercises may help
- Visualize giving a wonderful speech and the explosion of applause that will follow
- Remember that the audience wants the speaker to succeed
- Do not mention nervousness because it is likely that no one would have known otherwise
- Focus on the speech not on what might go wrong or other anxieties
- Harness nervous energy and use it to be enthusiastic and engaging
- Give more and more speeches
With practice, even those who are most fearful of public speaking can become more comfortable with it and may eventually enjoy speaking to an audience.
References:
Hart, Jack. A Writer's Coach: The Complete Guide to Writing Strategies That Work. NY: Anchor Books, 2006.
Toastmasters International website. Accessed May 5, 2009
The copyright of the article How to Give a Great Speech in Speech Writing is owned by A.C. Leach. Permission to republish How to Give a Great Speech in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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