prepping for a speech? 25 tips on how to be awesome!
DESCRIPTION
Almost everyone hates making speeches when they first start out. Here are 25 tips to make an outstanding presentation, beginning with the prep.TRANSCRIPT
Dr. McGowan's
SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO
Preparing and Giving an
Awesome Speech
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www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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Did you know that giving a speech stands
at the top of the list of most common fears?
Standing in front of a group of people,
hoping that you do not screw up, and
praying that the words will come out right
can be daunting.
Here are 25 strategies that will help you
keep yourself calm and give that awesome
speech that you are fully capable of giving.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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1. WRITE IT DOWN.Many people sit down to write a speech
and get so caught up on trying to make it
sound perfect that they never finish it.
When you sit down to write your speech,
just write.
Write down whatever comes into your
mind and save perfecting it for later.
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2. Rewrite It.Now that you have gotten your
thoughts down, change it as much
as you want to or need to.
Rewriting is easy once you have
gotten your initial thoughts down
on paper.
A word processor on your computer
with “copy and paste” function
makes this a snap.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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3. Create an outline.
Arrange the key points in the order they
will need to fall into the actual speech.
This will help ensure that you do not
leave out any important or crucial
points and that you touch on
everything that you need to say.
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4. Use everyday
language.
Using words that your audience will
understand and relate to is very
important. Do not use unnecessary
jargon.
Otherwise, the audience will lose
interest because they cannot grasp
what you are trying to say to them. www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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5. Use descriptive
phrases.
The audience will be able to follow along
more easily if they can visualize your
words. If, for instance, you are giving a
speech at a wedding, consider
replacing: “He got all dolled up to take
her out” with more descriptive
language.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
5. Use descriptive phrases.
Instead, perhaps, talk about what the groom was
wearing, about how he fixed his hair, and how
much time he spent on it.
The audience will appreciate it because they will
be able to “see” what you mean.
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6. Use statistics carefully.
Instead of rattling off a bunch of statistics, only use the most important ones.
Audiences struggle to relate to spoken numbers.
Your listeners want to get to the heart of the matter.
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6. Use statistics carefully.
If you need to include statistics, give a few at a time and always include a real-life anecdote to go along with them.
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7. Use Humor.Injecting some fun into your speech is
a great way to get people relaxed and
interested.
Start off with a small joke relating to
the events of the day.
Use small (clean, of course) jokes
throughout the speech to keep the
audience involved and alert.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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8. Keep the jokes to a
minimum.
Yes, humor is great for speeches.
But do not let your speech turn into a
stand-up comedy routine.
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8. Keep the jokes to a
minimum. If you are giving a speech, it is probably
because you have something to say and
a specific point to drive home.
Get to the point of the speech and use
humor sparingly.
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9. Include pertinent
information.If, for instance, the speech is for a
fundraiser, include how the audience
can donate money, the organization’s
website, and any other ways they can
help.
Strive to anticipate all of the
audience’s questions within your
speech. www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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9. Include pertinent
information.
If you are giving a speech about a
cause, an issue, or an organization,
include all of the necessary information
the audience may need to make
contact.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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10. Rehearse, rehearse,
rehearse.The best speeches are the ones that sound
natural.
So, practice your speech aloud several
times. Then, when it is time to perform,
the words will come out sounding much
more natural and automatic.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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11. Practice your
speech in front of a
mirror.
Saying your speech in front of a
mirror will show you how you will
look to the audience.
Do you look nervous?
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11. Practice your
speech in front of a
mirror.
Are you staring down at the
paper?
Seeing what you are doing wrong
will help you to fix it before the
speech.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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12. Practice in front of
a friend.
After you have practiced in front of a
mirror several times, get the reaction of
an outside party.
Ask a friend or family member if they
will listen to you give your speech.
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12. Practice in front of
a friend.
They may notice things you did not
while practicing alone, and be able to
offer valuable advice.
Typically, they want you to look good
almost more than you do!
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13. Control the
volume.
You want to be sure that everyone
in the room can hear you, and not
the participants in the front row.
Be careful not to shout into the
microphone, but speak loud
enough so that no one will miss a
word. www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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13. Control the
volume.
Usually, speaking just a bit louder
than normal conversation is a good
measure to use.
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14. Use visual
aids.
Have charts, flyers, or brochures
printed up to hand out before
starting your speech.
These allow your audience to
follow along with you and keep
on track with what you are
saying. www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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14. Use visual
aids.
Visual aids also provide a good
memento for people to take
home to remember that speech
that you have worked so hard
on.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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15. Speak from your
heart.
The most powerful speeches are
those in which the audience can tell
that the speaker has a vested
interest in what they are saying.
Allow your passion to shine in order
to have the greatest impact on your
audience.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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16. Avoid fidgeting.
There is nothing that shouts out a
‘lack of confidence’ quicker than
someone who cannot stand still
while giving a speech.
This does not however mean that
you have to stand like a robot. www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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16. Avoid fidgeting.
But it does mean you should avoid
playing with your collar or twisting
your body when you speak.
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17. Pause
appropriately.
Allow some short breaks in your
speech to allow people to absorb
what you have said.
This works best after each main
point you wish to drive home. www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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17. Pause
appropriately.
Do not, however, let the pauses go
on for too long or use them too
often.
This makes it look as though you are
struggling to find the next words.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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18. Visualize.Before you give your speech, visualize
what the room and the stage will look
like, and how you and the audience
will look.
Visualizing is a great help when it
comes time to deliver.
It will feel as though you have already
“been there,” which will make you feel
more confident.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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19. Time it.When you are practicing, time your
speech so that you know exactly how
long it will take to deliver.
If you go over the time limit, trim some
of the unnecessary sections.
And if you have too much time left
over, add more information or stories.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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20. Stay positive.
Even if you are giving a speech on a
sad or unpleasant topic, it is important
to find a way to put a positive spin on
it.
Let the audience know that there is
something that can be done, that
there is hope, or that something good
came from it. www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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20. Stay positive.
Staying positive will also help keep
your audience interested and
motivated.
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21. Ask questions.Involve your audience.
This is a great way to keep them
interested and alert.
Ask questions that require a show of
hands. This is a great way to warm them
up and it will lead naturally into the
speech.
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22. Move Around.
Moving around is different than
fidgeting.
Walking around the stage can help keep
your audience interested and help you
reach out to different members of the
audience because of your close
proximity to all of them at some point
during the speech.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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23. Write only your
outline and main
points. Of course, writing your entire
speech for practice is helpful.
But on the day of your speech,
bring only an outline with a few
key points for greater spontaneity.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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24. Make eye contact.
Connect with your audience by looking
into their eyes.
Look at audience members in different
parts of the room throughout your
speech.
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25. Thank your
audience.It is important to remember that every
person in your audience took time out
of their lives and their busy schedules
to come and listen to you.
Thank them for listening and for being a
good audience.
They will appreciate it and will
remember your speech with a smile.www.MartinaMcGowan.com
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With planning and preparation, you can
deliver an awesome speech with
confidence.
Practice, know your subject, and go for
it.
Before long, you will confidently deliver
speeches that your audience will be
thrilled to hear!www.MartinaMcGowan.com
“You were born to win, but to be a winner,
you must plan to win, prepare to win,
and expect to win.”Zig Ziglar
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To Your Continued Success!!!
41www.MartinaMcGowan.com