A Guide For Giving A Great Speech

November 16, 2022

What’s the one skill that all great leaders have in common? The ability to give engaging public speeches. From business to politics to media, the ones who get to the very top excel at talking to crowds. We have even witnessed that at the Consumer Choice Award.

It could be an internal town hall, a meeting with a prospective client, an investor presentation, or a community event. If you can give a great speech, you will be able to get the audience to listen to your ideas and remember them.

In other words, with a great speech, you will be able to persuade your audience.

Does it mean this innate skill is exclusive to some people? Absolutely not. Like any other skill, it can be learned and practiced. This guide for giving a great speech will give actionable suggestions to help you become a better speaker and influence your listeners.

Identify your theme

Every great speech has a main theme that its audience can remember. And it has to be one and not several topics. Always think from the point of view of your audience when you identify and work on your theme. Make it easy for them to explain it to others.

Focus is of the utmost importance here. If someone were to ask your audience, they shouldn’t say, “The speech was something about automation.” You want them to say, “They talked about how automation is happening more because of existing job shortages and there’s nothing to worry about.”

Frame it as a performance

The first thing is to see it not just as a speech but as a performance. Beyond the content, every great speech depends on body language, gestures, inflection, tone, tenor, and structure. If this seems complex, all you have to do is watch a standup comic or one-person play either online or in person.

After you write down your speech, practice it in front of a mirror and later in front of a small audience or camera. Focus on all aspects and not just the words. Do it a few times and you will find out where you have to improve.

Format your speech as a story

All great speeches are great stories at their core. More than reason, what moves and engages people are stories. Unless your speech is data-driven, reduce the number of facts and figures.

Use storytelling to humanize the theme and your audience will be more interested in what you have to say. People will remember your speech if you sprinkle it with brief anecdotes. They should be linked to your theme and be funny, inspiring, or moving.

Keep it short

Here’s a truth about great speeches. No matter the occasion, audience, theme, or context, you can keep your speech short. What cannot be explained in a few minutes will never be explained in an hour. The longer you speak, the more distanced and disinterested your audience will be.

Once you write your speech, get rid of everything that’s unnecessary. There’s no need for needless preambles like you would normally write in essays. Get to the main topic quickly and don’t repeat points.

Focus on your posture

Your audience won’t be just hearing you. They will also be seeing you. Pay close attention to your posture and body language since they will shape the impact of your speech. Taking deep breaths before the speech can calm you. Hold eye contact with different members of your audience throughout the speech.

Don’t slouch or fidget. Be confident and stand up straight with your head steady and shoulders back. Don’t hide your hands. Have an open posture and use gestures for emphasis. But don’t think too much about your posture since that can make you look nervous.

Modify your cadence

A mistake that most speakers make is to maintain the same cadence throughout their speech. This makes it seem monotonous and boring. It’s important to vary your volume, tone, and speed to make it interesting for your audience.

Rule number one is to speak slowly. Use shorter sentences and pause for emphasis where needed. You can even mention pauses in your text to remind you. Figure out where you have to take a breather and let a point sink in. Engage the audience with statements like “Think about it.”

In short

Using the techniques in this guide to giving a great speech, you can significantly improve your skill. But you need to consistently practice and learn from your performances.