Speech Training

Posts Tagged ‘speech’

Public speaking is a challenge in and of itself, let alone being effective at it. However, if you are going to make a speech you should strive to make it an effective one.

Public speaking is both an art and a science. There are specific steps that can be taken to command attention and results. A scientific means of presenting your speech will have a lasting effect on your audience.

The following is a precise procedure that will enable you to make an impact in the lives of those listening to your speech.

First and foremost be properly prepared. Do your home work! Make sure that you have content and that your content is worth knowing. Once you have completed ample research for your topic familiarize your self with the material.

An absolute must is that your topic is presenting only one main idea. Your whole speech will be arguing for this one specific topic. If you have more than one idea you take the chance that your listeners will not remember what you said.

One way to know whether or not you have a proper grasp on your subject is, “Could you have a Q&A session after your speech and adequately answer their questions”?

Next, you will want to organize your findings in a logical sequence. It must flow for your audience to be interested, understand, and retain it. Your organization of your points should continuously support the big idea. Providing evidence and reasoning are a strong part of the persuasive process!

Once you have completed the previous tasks you are well on your way to an effective speech. Now, it is time to consider going to the podium to present your message.

Write out your opening and closing remarks. You want to be sure that you know how you are going to get started and how you will end. I don’t suggest that you write out your whole speech, but do write out these two areas.

At this time you should have the opening remarks on paper, the outline of the message, and the ending written out. Now begin to practice your speech. Determine if you are able to complete the speech within the allotted time given and/or you have enough material to take up the time frame.

People love real life stories! At this point you have a feel for the speech, now, it is time to add some illustrations or life stories to each point. Illustrations will enable your audience to relate to your subject and remember it. After you have added your life stories practice it again to get a feel for your speech and to check the timing again.

You are ready to present your message. If at all possible take only one sheet of paper with you. If you take too many notes you will have a tendency to read or pay too much attention to your notes.

Speak, don’t read. Present your material in a conversational manner, but be sure to speak up so that everyone is able to hear you. Speak to the furthest person away from you. But ensure that you are giving the whole audience eye contact. It is not necessary to look everyone in the eye, but you must be scanning them so that they get a feel that you are conversing with them.

Be declarative, even, firm in your close. This will provide a means of impact and challenge to your listeners.

It is time to wait for the results of your presentation!

At a meeting of your organization you wish to nominate for office a man whom you consider in every way fitted for the position.

You know that if you can make a good nomination address you will bring success to your candidate.

How will you speak in order to be successful? There are three psychological steps to follow.

Make your speech according to those three steps, in the order indicated below, and you will certainly make a good impression.

1. Define the type of man needed for the office.

“The office of Treasurer of our organization needs a man of business ability, a man accustomed to handling large sums of money, a man familiar with banking, with accounting, and with all the details of large business.” (Add further points until you have shown the full needs of the office.)

2. Without naming your candidate, show that you know a man whose characteristics are those called for by the office.

“There is a man among us who, for years, has handled, not thousands, but hundreds of thousands of dollars; he is an experienced banker, so respected that he was made an officer of the Bankers’ Association of this State; he is the author of a well known text book on the care of fraternal funds.” (Add further details until you have shown the unusual qualifications of your candidate.)

3. At the close of your address, name, for the first time, the candidate you have in mind.

“Gentlemen: the man who has all these remarkable qualifications, qualifications that more than fill the requirements of the office, is here with us. We are fortunate in having such a man as a fellow member. I nominate for the office of Treasurer, Mr. Frank B. Labdell, one of the charter members of this body.”

By speaking in this deductive way you fix attention upon the office rather than the man. You remove personal antagonism, and place all emphasis upon qualifications.

Prove your points thoroughly and you are likely to make your candidate successful. ¦

PROBLEM.

Think of a man who would make a successful President of your organization. Think out the words of a nomination address in his favor.