Planning Your Speech

The ending of your speech is no less important than the introduction or the body. Unfortunately there are some public speakers (even those who regularly give talks) who forget this fact and ...

You knew you were expected to be a public speaker… but did you realize you also had to be part investigator?

Don't worry - you don't have to channel the thoughts and abilities of Sherlock ...

You effortlessly flew through the beginning of your speech. You self-assuredly breezed through the middle. And now you’re approaching the end with about ten minutes to spare. Since you have the ...

Manager: “I’d like you to say a few words on your department’s progress at the upcoming annual shareholder’s meeting…” Employee: “How long should I talk?” Manager: ...

Though every speech you give should be written, rehearsed, and delivered with a high degree of professionalism, the reality is that paid speeches often wind up as much different than unpaid ones. ...

There’s an old saying: “Practice makes perfect.” Guess what? It’s true… especially when it comes to giving a speech. Regardless of the type of speech you’re expected to deliver, the event ...

The type of speech you’re planning (memorial wedding, corporate, etc) will greatly determine how you’ll need to prepare in order to deliver it with excellence. That being said, all speeches ...

Public speaking can be a challenge in and of itself; but what happens when you’re asked to talk about a topic you don’t know well? Initially it’s extremely helpful to get clarification on the ...

Sometimes even expertly prepared speeches go wrong. When they do, you have two choices: Give up in defeat Go with the flow. Obviously, “2” is the recommended (though not always easiest) ...

Think of the body of your speech as akin to a “main course”: The introduction was a tantalising “appetiser” and the ending will be an unforgettable “dessert”… but the body of your speech is ...

Your audience will decide in the first few seconds of your speech, whether or not they’ll listen wholeheartedly to the rest. This means your introduction must grab their attentions, irresistibly ...

"I'll just wing it." How many public speakers have regretted making that snap decision? Chances are good that the percentage is quite high.

Not preparing for a speech is ...

When giving a speech it’s not always necessary (or wise) to make waves. However, sometimes a little controversy can spice up the dullest of subjects and turn what could otherwise be a tedious ...

Politicians do it. Motivational speakers do it too. And so can you. What is “it”? “It” is the age-old art of storytelling. And if you think that telling stories is child’s play, you ...

Large Audiences-Are Handouts Effective? Speaking to an audience of 100, 500 or 1,000 people? Then distributing handouts to them all may seem like a good idea, but could turn into a logistical ...

The use of humour in a speech may seem like an “easy” way to warm up an audience or to get a point across but if used inappropriately, it can rapidly backfire. Many public speakers have discovered, ...

Without an audience a presentation would be little more than a soliloquy. But many speech writers seem to forget that their listeners play an enormous part in the way their material should be ...