How to make a powerful speech that gives you long-lasting results
I’ve always said that an effective speech is not the one that gives you a standing ovation; it is the one that gives you RESULTS.
Making an effective speech is not easy. Why do you think this is? Most people believe that this is because they are not professional speakers or because they don’t belong to some speech club. I couldn’t disagree with them more.
The key is to determine what the word EFFECTIVE means to you in your speech. What are you looking for at the end of your speech? Are you looking for a standing ovation or are you just looking for results…maybe both? There is obviously nothing wrong with that…a good speech that gave you a standing ovation and results all in one. They are not very common, but they are possible.
Most of us don’t really make personal speeches. Let’s face it. Most of our speeches are work-related. You have to speak before your audience because your boss or your job demands it.
This time I want to help you focus on speeches that can give you results and a long-lasting relationship with your audience.
These types of speeches are more common. As a member of your community, whether your speech is for a business or a non-profit organization, most of the time you will see this same audience over and over again. You may be addressing your staff or volunteers or repeat clients on a regular basis.
This type of speech should not be designed to look for that standing ovation. It should be focused on results. Little ones, perhaps. You are not looking for a “first-place trophy” speech. You are looking for a way to create a long-term relationship with your audience.
You will want your audience to like you from the beginning. After all, you will be the one addressing them later on with another speech. Imagine if you prepare a speech that looks for that “standing ovation.” Good luck! Then, your audience will expect nothing less at your second speech.
Let me share something that helped a few of my friends become better speakers. Actually, they became more “relaxed” speakers. I helped them find a common ground that allowed them the opportunity to create a solid platform for their audience.
There are three comments that you’ll want your audience to
express during & after your speech.
1) “I knew that”
Create a common platform.
Start with information that your audience is familiar with. Don’t start with information that creates and impact or that is an “eye-opener.” There will be time for that later in your speech. By creating a common platform in your speech, you take your audience on a ride. Everyone is familiar with your information and they will understand you better as you proceed with more specific information. Your audience will feel as if they “already know your information.” And that is fine. You want that. It will make them feel comfortable and more willing to listen to the rest of your speech.
Focus on information about your topic that you know for certain your audience already knows. It is like a math class. Students first learn numbers before they get into other things such as multiplying and dividing. Consider the first part of your speech as a review or a warm up.
2) “That’s a good way to put it” or “I didn’t think about it that way!”
Read quotes and come up with you own ones
This is focused on your information. When you deliver a speech, you want to make it unique and give your audience a reason to want to hear you again. I always go back to stand up comedy. Comedians use the same jokes. It is up to them to make them unique and to give it some sort of a trademark. Same goes for your speech. You want to give this information a little “spice.” I recommend that you read poetry or go on line and search for “FAMOUS QUOTES.” This exercise will help you see how people use common words and common topics and replace the information with catchy or poetic sentences. Now, this is not relative to using someone else’s quote for punctuation or to highlight a specific point in your speech or to give additional information. When you re-phrase certain sentences in your speech, you are bound to have your audience say, “Now, that’s a good way to put it.” Or “I didn’t think about it that way.”
When you do this, your audience becomes more engaged. More involved with you and your information.
3) “I didn’t know that”
Provide a fresh and new idea; something that your audience will be able to pass along.
Obviously a speech must have something new in it. You want your audience to learn something new. Your information can be fun or engaging.
This is what makes an effective speech become…well… effective!
Follow these three steps whenever you are required to make a speech. Don’t fall for old, boring and traditional techniques that died at the end of the last century. The concept of immediacy is vital in your speeches. Techniques used by speech clubs are decades old and are designed may not be designed specifically for you or your topic. They may have been designed for a Gala speech or a special ceremony. You must deliver a speech that is direct, simple and effective. One that your co-workers or your community can not only understand but they can also put to practice. Remember that an effective speech is not the one that gives you a standing ovation; it is the one that gives you RESULTS!
See you next time. Need more tips, learn more about effective communication techniques for non profit organizations at www.nonprofittips.wetpaint.com .
Alex
