HOW TO DELIVER A GREAT SPEECH

(every time)

2,000I’ve designed, and delivered over 2,000 speeches and seminars.

I’ve also made every possible mistake.

Along the way, I learned you can take the mystery out of delivering a great speech.

Here are my 11 best tips on how to deliver a great speech.

also see my Slideshare: “How to design a great speech”

(every time)

1. REMOVE SURPRISESA bit of preparation will save many embarrassing moments:

1. REMOVE SURPRISES

Test equipment, slides, video, and sound

Stand on stage, get comfortable

Plan location of: notes, laptop, water, props

[Pro Tip: create a check list on your phone]

A bit of preparation will save many embarrassing moments:

2. WARM UP THE CROWDAudiences respond better if they know and trust you.

2. WARM UP THE CROWD

2 weeks before, interview 3-5 delegates (you gain

insights, they spread the word)

arrive early. Meet more delegates. [Pro Tip: don’t talk about yourself - ask questions]

eat with delegates (not at the VIP table) and remember their names

Audiences respond better if they know and trust you.

Kelly Stoetzel, TED Talks conference programmer

3. DELIVER SERVICEDon’t think ‘this is a message I must communicate,’ instead think ‘People will love knowing about this!’

3. DELIVER SERVICE

Ask yourself:is my primary intention to: teach, motivate, inspire, or entertain?

what is one idea, lesson, or insight they must have 24 hours from now?

how do I want them to feel at the end?

Don’t think ‘this is a message I must communicate,’ instead think ‘People will love knowing about this!’

Kelly Stoetzel, TED Talks conference programmer

"If everything is important, then nothing is important." Garr Reynolds, author, Presentation Zen

4. DROP 50% OF YOUR SLIDES

4. DROP 50% OF YOUR SLIDES

You are the message—slides are reference points to accent your message:

make bullets brief (don’t repeat your message)

avoid fancy animations, unrelated video clips, crazy fonts, and unreadable graphs

capture the essence of your point - use large, original, clear images

"If everything is important, then nothing is important." Garr Reynolds, author, Presentation Zen

5. USE STORIES TO TEACHWrap your lesson in a unique, memorable story and you’ll have raving fans (even years later).

Bridge - connect from last point to new topic

Story - short, relevant, original (ideally funny)

Lesson - draw a relevant lesson from the story

Application - explain how this relates to their work/life/relationships [Pro Tip: describe 2-3 specific ways they can use this solution now]

5. USE STORIES TO TEACHWrap your lesson in a unique, memorable story and you’ll have raving fans (even years later). Use this formula:

6. KILL THE OPENING & CLOSEPeople remember the first few minutes (primacy) and the last few minutes (recency) - so make them outstanding!

jump right into a rehearsed story describe a problem you know they have tell them you’ve been there, fought the battle, found a solution, and came to share never, ever rush the close. [Pro Tip: have a drop-dead start time for your close] close with: summary, motivation (personal story is

best), and call-to-action

6. KILL THE OPENING & CLOSEPeople remember the first few minutes (primacy) and the last few minutes (recency)

7. DON’T WASTE THEIR TIMEA good, short speech (Lincoln’s 1863 address at Gettysburg was only 2 minutes) is more memorable and valued over a boring dissertation.

don’t say you’re excited to be there

don’t fiddle with your notes, water, remote, microphone, or laptop

don’t talk about your taxi ride, hotel, or flight there [Pro Tip: the more your life appears different, the less they trust you]

7. DON’T WASTE THEIR TIME

8. USE VOCAL VARIETYAuditory learners are 20-30% of your audience.

speed up = something good is coming

slow down = pay attention

lower your voice = confidence and trust

pause = that was important

8. USE VOCAL VARIETYAuditory learners are 20-30% of your audience.

9. MOVE ON PURPOSEUse movement on stage to hold audience attention and accent your message.

Step forward to make a point

Raise your hands to get their attention

If telling a story, deliver the lines of each character from a different location.

[Pro Tip: Move to their right when talking about the future, to their left is the past]

9. MOVE ON PURPOSEUse movement on stage to hold audience attention and accent your message.

10. BE POWERFUL“Don’t fake it till you make it. Fake it till you become it.” Amy Cuddy, TEDGlobal 2012

Here’s a secret: audiences want you to succeed, so step up and take charge:

use power poses (standing with hands on hips and feet

spread, like Wonder Woman or Super Man) for two minutes before stepping on stage

stay anchored when making a point

smile (it’s contagious) “When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you.” Louis Armstrong

10. BE POWERFUL

11. TRAIN YOUR AUDIENCETeach your audience to respond during your speech and they’re more likely to: enrol in a program, buy your book, or even give a standing ovation.

!

talk with their neighbour

solve a problem

journal a new insight or goal

play a learning game

stand and move

11. TRAIN YOUR AUDIENCEAbout every 15-20 minutes have them:

ABOVE ALL,

be yourself,ABOVE ALL,

be yourself,stay on time,

ABOVE ALL,

be yourself,

focus on serving,stay on time,

ABOVE ALL,

AND ENJOY THE RIDE

Photo Credits:!Woman on cover - www.flickr.com/photos/jodiwomack/6244142545 Man preparing room - www.flickr.com/photos/cdharrison/173418523 Empty auditorium - www.flickr.com/photos/29143375@N05/5204035441 Man taking notes - www.flickr.com/photos/officialgdc/4897239430 Sally Hogshead at SMMW - www.flickr.com/photos/toprankblog/8649764608 Empty stage with chair - www.flickr.com/photos/batmoo/3734837951 Audience - www.flickr.com/photos/salman2000/546893319 Man in white jacket - www.flickr.com/photos/officialgdc/4896724713 Man with arms raised - www.flickr.com/photos/rsaa/5447663675 Martin Luther King - www.flickr.com/photos/e-strategycom/1054179588 Ladies talking at conference - www.flickr.com/photos/msc-tamu/13767702344 Closing “and enjoy the ride” - www.flickr.com/photos/boellstiftung/14456432422 !!

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