For CAP 423. Preparing speeches for clients.

1. Speeches
BE BRIGHT, BE BRIEF AND BE GONE

2. Be memorable…..and bright
Lure them in.
Monotone is basically communications terrorism.
Luckily you have a pulse and a point so act like it.

3. Have sound structure
Have two things: a path and a destination.
They want to know where you’re going and why.
Set the expectation near your opening on what you’ll be covering.
As you write and revise, focus on structuring and simplifying.
Remove anything that’s extraneous, contradictory, or confusing.
Remember: If it doesn’t help you get your core message across, drop it.

4. Don’t waste the opening
Share a shocking fact or statistic.
Tell a humorous anecdote related to your big idea.
Open with a question – and have your audience raise their hands.
Get your listeners engaged early. And keep the preliminaries short.
You’re already losing audience members every minute you talk.
Capitalize on the goodwill and momentum.
The early moments are nirvana.

5. Use the “right” tone
Who is your audience?
What are you doing to reach them?
Have you missed them?

6. Humanize yourself and your message
You and your message are one-and-the-same.
If your audience doesn’t buy into you, they’ll resist your message too.
It’s that simple.

7. Repetition, or emphasis on key ideas
Think about the State of the Union.
Can you address all of the issues in society?
No way, so you choose a few and leave the audience wanting more.
This creates dialogue down the road.
And sometimes haters. Haters gonna hate.
Shake it off – Taylor Swift

8. Transition smoothly, like a boss
Use silence or rhetorical questions for punch.
Remind the audience to wake up from time to time by saying things like so, the take-a-ways are
or this is something to really consider.
Emphasis.
Passion.

9. Theatrics
Use them if you can…if it’s forced, or worse, awkward, go without.

10. End stronger than you started
Fact is, your close is what your audience will remember.
So recap your biggest takeaway.
Tie everything together.
Share a success story.
Make a call to action.
Don’t hold anything back.
Your ending is what audience will ultimately talk about when they head out the door.

11. Keep it short…be brief
This is their time, not yours

12. Be gone
Do not use a “thank you” or “any questions” slide.
Do use a contact slide.