After you’ve given a few speeches you may benefit from a few of my individual replies to my clients. I hope they may help you, who may share the same concerns. Certainly, much more can be said about each of the following areas, but here is a bit of wisdom to aid you in your next presentation:
PREPARATION
In preparation, always find at least something that you can enjoy (or at least interesting, or life-building) about each presentation you give. Not all will be topics or presentation that you may want to give (a eulogy, or a speech asked to be presented on the spur of the moment and “off the cuff” by your employer, etc.). Coming up with a topic about something you love and know about helps you to do your best whatever the occasion.
USE ADJECTIVES TO PAINT WHAT I CALL “WORD PICTURES”
Consider using more adjectives in your speech to paint word pictures, such as singing birds, buzzing bees collecting pollen, and waking to the warmth of sunshine, etc. This really “paints a picture” for your audience. Don’t be overly concerned when they close their eyes. They’re still listening but this time “picturing” the place your words are taking them!
SUMMARY VS. CONCLUSION TECHNIQUES
Even though many texts state that the summary is a conclusion “technique”, I disagree. I feel that all speeches should have a summary, followed by your conclusion. Because I differ with others out there, many texts do not go into any variety of concluding techniques. Simply, for a good conclusion, I suggest that you use any technique you’ve used in the intro. Many times, using the same technique as you did in the intro will give a nice “wrap up” to your speech. For example, you could leave your audience with the answer to your question you asked, if your attention getting technique in the intro was “asking a question”.
ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR AUDIENCE
I know it may seem “odd” to state your name in the acknowledgement part of your speech when practicing (or giving an actual speech as an assignment) with just one or a few people in the audience, (especially when you know them and they know you) but you’ll want your presentation to be as typical as possible to a real life situation. With this in mind, be sure to state your name during this part of your speech.
MEMORIZE YOUR INTRODUCTION
It’s good to actually memorize your intro and visualize yourself going through it with good and positive things happening, such as acknowledging your audience, and communicating well with them. You “become one” with the audience just as if you were having a one on one conversation. Now when you are at the lectern delivering your speech, it get through this section and start into the body of your speech feeling more confident, and comfortable. Once you got into your speech, and get “rolling”, any nervousness will start to fade.
There are so many things to think about when preparing, and delivering your speech. For more information, contact Ter Scott. Visit: http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/ or www.terscott.com/speaker .
PREPARATION
In preparation, always find at least something that you can enjoy (or at least interesting, or life-building) about each presentation you give. Not all will be topics or presentation that you may want to give (a eulogy, or a speech asked to be presented on the spur of the moment and “off the cuff” by your employer, etc.). Coming up with a topic about something you love and know about helps you to do your best whatever the occasion.
USE ADJECTIVES TO PAINT WHAT I CALL “WORD PICTURES”
Consider using more adjectives in your speech to paint word pictures, such as singing birds, buzzing bees collecting pollen, and waking to the warmth of sunshine, etc. This really “paints a picture” for your audience. Don’t be overly concerned when they close their eyes. They’re still listening but this time “picturing” the place your words are taking them!
SUMMARY VS. CONCLUSION TECHNIQUES
Even though many texts state that the summary is a conclusion “technique”, I disagree. I feel that all speeches should have a summary, followed by your conclusion. Because I differ with others out there, many texts do not go into any variety of concluding techniques. Simply, for a good conclusion, I suggest that you use any technique you’ve used in the intro. Many times, using the same technique as you did in the intro will give a nice “wrap up” to your speech. For example, you could leave your audience with the answer to your question you asked, if your attention getting technique in the intro was “asking a question”.
ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR AUDIENCE
I know it may seem “odd” to state your name in the acknowledgement part of your speech when practicing (or giving an actual speech as an assignment) with just one or a few people in the audience, (especially when you know them and they know you) but you’ll want your presentation to be as typical as possible to a real life situation. With this in mind, be sure to state your name during this part of your speech.
MEMORIZE YOUR INTRODUCTION
It’s good to actually memorize your intro and visualize yourself going through it with good and positive things happening, such as acknowledging your audience, and communicating well with them. You “become one” with the audience just as if you were having a one on one conversation. Now when you are at the lectern delivering your speech, it get through this section and start into the body of your speech feeling more confident, and comfortable. Once you got into your speech, and get “rolling”, any nervousness will start to fade.
There are so many things to think about when preparing, and delivering your speech. For more information, contact Ter Scott. Visit: http://instantpublicspeaker.blogspot.com/ or www.terscott.com/speaker .
I really like "Word Pictures" Its a good idea to use more adjectives and give the listeners a perspective on the speech. All the areas you covered were good and gave me something to look forward to in preparing/presenting my next speech.
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea of painting a picture for your audience. I myself like being able to picture or imagine what someone is telling my to better understand what they are saying. So why not try to do the same for others! Great tips.
ReplyDeleteHi Ter,
ReplyDeleteYour article was really good. When I get the chance to do a speech on a topic I can pick, sometimes I don't get nervous and I actually look forward to the speech. Which is totally unlike me. This week I'm going to try to use your 5 tips in my speech.
Megan Beck in Oral Communications
I think you made some very good points about how to deliver a speech. I like how you say to paint a picture with your words. I think this makes the audience more intersted in what they are listening to.
ReplyDeleteHeather W.
I really enjoyed this post, and it helped me with the how acknowledging your audience can help. Also the summary vs. conclusion techniques gave some great tips. I always seem to find it difficult to summarize and start a speech.
ReplyDeleteMay 4th,
ReplyDeleteVickie L DBU
This was a very interesting article. I liked the part about knowing your intro really well. I guess in the past I wanted everything to sound good so I would try to memorize it all. But the intro will be easier. I also like that part about painting a picture for your audience, that will make your speech alot more interesting. At the begining of the last speech I did state my name and thank them for coming, it did sound kind of silly but that helped with easing the pain because my audience laughed.
Thanks Ter
I like the idea of using more adjectives to paint a picture of what your saying. You'll be able to have the audience form a similar picture as what you have in your mind.
ReplyDeleteMay 5, 2010
ReplyDeleteOral Communications
I do agree somewhat in regard to you statement "summary vs Conclusion" I think that pulling the audience back to the beginning question is a good way to end the speech. Guess I never thought of that particular way of labeling as you do.
Getting the audience to think again of what you started with makes a "edge of the seat" action.
I never thought about using more adjectives to paint a picture for the audience. I will try to do that in my next speech.I also think it's easier yo use more adjectives when you know more about the topic you are speaking about.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using alot of adjectives to "paint the picture." Depending on what I am writing about, I have put many adjectives in my papers in the past. For me the hardest thing to come up with is the introduction. Once I clear that than everything is ok. The easiest is getting the summary. But sometimes I have difficulty deciding on what I want to speak or write about.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Borresch, Oral Communications
I like the idea of using adjectives to paing "word pictures". This is something I've never thought to do since most of the speaches I have had to give have had pretty boring topics.
ReplyDeleteThank you I really liked the part about using words to paint a picture for your audience. I will really try and use this in the future.
ReplyDeleteBeau Burt
Hi Ter
ReplyDeleteI really liked the idea of using adjectives in your speech to make pictures. I think that you made some good points about speaking. It might be easier for me the next time my speech is due
thanks
diane Charnley
oral communications
The idea of painting pictures with my voice is one that I have used in the past when trying to convey a particular message. It works. The summary of the speech is also pretty simple to come up with as well. Just go over the main points, tie up any loose ends, and leave them with a new idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ter,
Mike Boone
Hello. I enjoyed 5 Tips to make your speech memorable. It will help me alot in preparing my speech. It gave good ideas and information.
ReplyDeleteThank-you, Ostara Groeschel
There are so many good tips on giving a great speech and this article has got more of those tips. Im trying to take all the good advise and use it during my speeches but honestly its hard to remember everything when you are standing there ready to vomit because of nerves. I know the next speech will be better has my nerves settle a bit and I wont be as nervous.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the 5 tips to making your speech more memorable. I am going to use more adjectives in future speeches to make them more interesting.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the idea of painting a picture for your audience. Just the idea of your audience being able to go into their minds and visualize what you are saying I think would make your speech more memorable for them.
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of acknowledging your audience, I believe that maybe by doing this they will feel a little closer to the speaker and know just a little bit more about that person to make the encounter a little more memorable.
I like the idea of painting pictures with my words during my speech. I am going to try it in this speech. Also, memorizing my introduction would help with my nervousness, thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteHello, I really like the 5 tips to make a memorable speech. They are really helpful to use in my speech thank you.
ReplyDeleteI particularly like the idea of using word pictures to gain and keep your audience's interest. People "listen" with more than just their hearing - adding an imaginative visual level can emphasize your words. The other idea in this article that will be really helpful to me is to memorize your introduction, as this is not as overwhelming as memorizing the whole speech. Then you can be more comfortable and engaging and the remainder of the speech will go much more smoothly.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of this will be helpful with my speech especially the tip of acknowledging your audience and using adjectives. Thank you Yvonne Johnson
ReplyDeleteI do like the point about adding more adjectives to your speeches. I was told when I gave my speech to add more of them. Thanks Ter.
ReplyDeleteJackie Z
I think that your introduction is huge. It is the gateway into your audiences attention. If you don't get their attention right away, they tend to stop paying attention and get board. By knowing what you are going to say, you can go over it time after time and figure out the best way to say it to make it the most appealing.
ReplyDeleteColleen Winberg
Oral Comm
I also liked the idea of "painting a picture" for the audience. It helps to understand what they are saying if you can picture it in your mind.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that acklnowledgeing the audience is a good thing to do. For one thing it helps people remember you and also it is a good way to gain trust and intamacy, there is more of a connection when you know the name of a presenter.
ReplyDeleteI liked this article, I used some of these tips while preparing my speech. I liked the part about how the conclusion and summary should be two different things, I agree with you on that. Thanks for this article, I will be sure to refer back to it if I need a reminder.
ReplyDeleteHanna Krivinchuk Oral communications
I did my speech all ready but now I'm reading this and doing it. I know its out of order but my time is being crunched by life changing possibilities for the good so I'm doing what I'm doing when I can do it. Now that I have read this I used some of the techniques like painting a picture with words. This is actually a technique I'd like to use more often. I love painting, so for me to use words to describe what I'm trying to show is not too hard of a process. I will try to "paint" more next speech. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJoshua Hofschulte
I liked your tips, thank you. The 5th tip memorize your introduction was great. If I could change my mind set to realize we speak publicly all the time in everyday life. The actual giving of a speech would not be so difficult.
ReplyDeleteLinda J
Oral Communications
I found this information to be very useful. It doesn't seem to matter that I may be delivering my speech to someone I may know, I still get nervous about having to do it anyway. I really liked the part about using adjectives in your speech, it made me think to times I have been in the audience and someone has done that and what a good feeling it gives you. I think one of the best public speakers I ever knew was the pastor from one of the churches I attended, he made you feel so part of the sermon by talking directly to individuals in the congregation and calling them by name and drawing them into what he was talking about.
ReplyDeleteI gave my second speech for Oral Communications last night. I do find that in the summary vs. technique situation my speech is more effective and less awkward at the end when I wrap up by using the same technique I did at the beginning. I have seen my audience reaction to my using this technique with nods of recognition or a "yes I totally understand what you are trying to get across now!" kind of lighting up in their face. It brings the whole speech together.
ReplyDeleteI did struggle with this speech because the topic I chose was more serious and less light hearted than my last one. It was difficult to not come across as too formal, and to connect with the audience more with this one. I wasnt as comfortable with my material as previously, and probably should have spent more time practicing with it before my presentation. I did two practice runs the day before but had no time the day of to run through it again.
Elaine Wiggins
Oral Communications
I think the portion of the blog where you tell us to acknowledge our audience. I think alot of people, especially those of us giving speeches to family members, might leave this part out. Even though these speeches are not being given to you or a proctor we should treat them as if they are an actual speech infront of an audience that we may not know as well.
ReplyDeleteDana Edmond
Those were some interesting tips. I especially liked the one about memorizing your intro to any speech. I think I will actually do this for my next Pack Meeting for Cub Scouts. For some reason I am always very nervous when standing infront of all the parents and having to explain what we have been doing in our Den over the past few weeks. Naturally after I get nervous, I get quieter, and summerize everything to get it done and over with! Maybe if I am confident that I covered the part I memorize, I won't get as nervous, kind of like an ice breaker in a way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips,
Shane Linge, DBU Student
I really liked how your mentioned to pain picture I think this give the reader something they may be able to relate to more. Also finding something exciting about every speech because it give you something to look forward to and less thinking about being nurvous.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you said to use adjectives to paint a picture. It really does help listeners visualize what you are talking about. The only problem I have is using my own name while giving a speech. I almost feel as though I am talking to myself about myself. This will have to be something that I work on. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteFirst off preparation is always important when giving a speech and memorizing your opening lines is a good place to start. For me memorizing more can be helpful. I find myself adding many adjectives and almost turning my speech into a story. In the future I need to plan out a proper summary and conclusion, I believe its my weak point when speaking.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great article! I will definetly use the tips in my future speeches. Memorizing the introduction is a great idea, and allows for the speaker to gain eye contact with the audience. I like the idea of the conclusion not being a summary. The hint of answering the question that is stated in the introduction (if that is the style used) is a great way to do just that.
ReplyDeleteKaty Bortz
Oral Communications Winter 2012
I have a hard time preparing properly for a speech. Since public speaking causes me such anxiety, I tend to over-analyze my paper preparation, and fail to memorize any of it. This is my weakest point in preparation.
ReplyDeleteIn preparing for future speeches I will try to find something exciting about each speech to help alleviate some of my anxiety.
Preparation is very important when giving speeches, because you need to have your information so that you can give a good speech and know what you will be talking about. And also memorizing your introduction can be helpful because if you know what your intro is, it will help get into your speech.
ReplyDeleteI like the information on memorizing your introduction. A lot of times if you get through your introduction, the rest just falls into place and will flow smoother, even if you don't remember it word for word.
ReplyDeleteI think Preparing for a speech is one of the hardest things for me besides actually writing it out. Trying to put things onto paper is very difficult for me, I can't seem to put things into words that well. It is even harder for me to present a speech because I get so nervous talkin infront of people. I start to stutter, play with my jewlery, and fiddle with things in my hands.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading about preparing and memorizing your speech, I really hope that will help me with being so nervous, and help me be more confident in myself.
Thanks,
DeeAnna Patnaude Oral Communications Online 2012
I really liked your idea of memorizing the introduction and imagining your self giving this. I did actually put this tip into use for my recent speech and it really did work. Because I had it memorized and had practiced it so much, it really went well and set the tone of my whole speech!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ter!