So You're Going to Make a Speech

What Do I Talk About?Start by asking yourself three
questions:1. Who is my audience? (What do I knowmost impact, so give them extra thought, time, and
about theeffort. If
corporate culture or collective personality of theyou haven't hooked your audience's interest, their
group?)2. What do they want or need to know fromminds are
me?3. How long can or should I talk?Where Do I Getgoing to wander off. Whatever you do, don't waste
Material?If you're going to be addressing a particularany of
group a fewyour precious seconds with "Ladies and Gentlemen,
weeks from now, keep a small notebook handy toit is a
jot downpleasure to be here tonight." Open with an intriguing
ideas and situations related to your topic andor
audience.startling statement: "Half the people in this room are
Make a list of what you know that can benefit yourgoing
them, allto," "As a young man, my father gave me this
the experiences and situations that could serve asvaluable
good (oradvice...," "Of all the questions I am most frequently
bad) examples for others, high points and lowasked..."I helped a neighbor, Mike Powell, with a
points,speech he was
failures and successes.Keep adding those sudden andputting together for the Continental Breakfast Club
stunning bits of insight thatin San
come to you in the shower or car. Or maybe youFrancisco. Mike was a senior scientist with
saidGenentech at
something on the subject to a friend that wasthe time. I suggested that since most of us don't
particularlyknow what
funny or memorable. Some of these experiencesscientists are like or what they do, he should tell the
may
become the original stories you use to illustrate aaudience. Mike captured everyone's attention by
key pointsaying,
in your speech. When you actually sitdown to write,"Being a scientist is like doing a jigsaw puzzle in a
you'llsnowstorm at night...you don't have all the
have plenty of material.pieces...and you
How Do I Outline My Talk?There are two basicdon't have the picture you are trying to create."2.
outlines that work well for bothDevelop strong supporting stories.If you're using the
beginning and advanced speakers alike.1. ThePast-Present outline format, the middle of
Past-Present Journey FormulaTell your audience ayour talk is where you expand on your key points
three-part story:This is where I was.and
This is where I am.develop personal stories that support where you
This is how I got here.It's a simple format that helpswere and
you tell the audience who youwhere you are now. In the Q&A format, develop
are and why you are qualified to speak on the topicone or two
you'vestrong anecdotes to support each answer. Personal
chosen.Here's an example of how effective theanecdotes are best, but you can also insert some of
outline can be. Athe
successful Realtor was asked to deliver a 25-minuteideas and examples you've been gathering in your
presentation for the local Board of Realtors. Ijournal or
coached her tocomputer.3. Close on a high note.Your close should
open like this: "Twelve years ago, before I went intobe the high point of your speech. First,
the realsummarize the key elements of the investment
estate business, I had never sold anything but Girlprocess (or
Scoutwhatever your topic is). If you're planning to take
cookies, and I hadn't done that well. Last year, I soldquestions
$13from the audience, say, "Before my closing remarks,
million in a slow market, selling homes that averagedare
$100,000 each. Today, I'll tell you how I built mythere any questions." Answer them then.The last
business."thirty seconds of your speech must send people
Right away, the audience knew exactly what sheout energized and fulfilled. Finish your talk with
was goingsomething
to talk about, and they were eager to hear herinspirational that supports your theme. My scientist
story!2. The Q&A OutlineThe members of yourfriend
audience probably want to know theMike talked of the frustrations of being a scientist.
answers to the same kinds of business questionsHe closed
you'reby saying, "People often ask, Why should anyone
asked at parties or professional functions. You canwant to be
starta scientist?" Then Mike told them about a particularly
with, "The five questions I'm most frequently asked
aboutinformation-intensive medical conference he had
investments (or whatever your product or serviceattended.
is) are--"Pose the first question to the audience andThe final speaker rose and said, "I am a
answer it forthirty-two-year-old
them in a conversational manner, just as you wouldwife and mother of two. I have AIDS. Please work
with afast."Mike got a standing ovation for his speech. He
potential customer or at a party. Even thoughwas telling
you'veneverhis audience what they needed to know.
made a speech before, you've certainly had a lot ofHow Do I Polish My Speech?Your next step is to
experience answering questions in your field.make a written draft of your speech. You
How Do I Start to Write My Speech?That's easy.can assemble your notes, or you may prefer to talk
To begin with, don't. Gather and organize youryour
ideas, plan and polish, but don't write it down wordideas into a tape recorder and transcribe the words.
for word.Then
For now, just jot an outline with key points andread your draft to confirm that it is:- Interesting:
ideas on aAfter every point you make, ask yourself, "Who
note pad.The Speech Itself1. Open with a bang.Thecares?" If no one does, edit it out.
first and last thirty seconds of your speech have the