What does a successful speech require?

1) An excellent speech does not require a brilliant orator. You can do it. The key is preparation. 2) Make sure that the title of your speech is catchy. 3) You should think of themes and points, noting down ideas and sources and crafting phrases and sentences. 4) The best speech tells your audience things they didn't know and give them insights they didn't have. 5) The notes or texts or slides should be finalized a day before the speech. 6 ) Expectation shapes reality. This means that, to some extent you can have won or lost your audience even before you are really into your speech. If people think you're going to be good, that will help them to perceive you as good. So your biographical details in the programme material and how the chair introduces you are both important and you can influence them. Conversely, if people think you're going to be poor, that will condition them to seeing you as poor. So never begin by saying that you were unsure why you were invited to speak or what you should say and, unless it is obvious (for instance because you have a terrible cold, never feel anxious, unsure or unwell. 7) Once you are called upon to make your speech, pause for a couple of moments before actually starting your delivery. 8) If you are not using a microphone, be aware of the need to speak sufficiently loudly that the furthest member of your audience can hear you clearly. Take the opportunity to move around a little which will help to command attention. 9) You should convey a sense of enthusiasm for the subject. This will effect your delivery and how your speech is received. 10) Occasionally alter the speed, volume and tone of your delivery. Speaking slower or faster and quieter or louder and being more cheerful or more serious all adds dramatic effect and keeps the attention of your audience. 11) Regularly sweep your eyes left-centre-right and back and front-middle-rear and back, so that you engage all members of your audience. 12) It is good to use your hands expressively - but do not wave your arms around which will make you look manic. 13) Never apologise for your nervousness or your material. 14) Dont make a rambling opening. 15) Make a dramatic opening which seizes the attention with the very first word. 15) Have a very clear structure. A good technique is to tell your audience what you are going to say, tell them, and then tell them what you have said. A good structure is for the core message to be three linked points which can be sub-divided as necessary. 16) Another possible structure which can work well, if it is appropriate is, to use a narrative or a story. Stories really engage listeners and give a speech direction and flow. For instance, you might be describing how you chose your career or enjoyed a holiday or how a company found success or came to change strategy. 17) Put the main verb early in the sentence, especially if it is a long sentence. 18) Use striking adjectives and adverbs. Not simply: "We face many challenges" but "We face many exciting challenges". Not simply: "We will work on our problems" but "We will work energetically on our problems. 19) Consider the use of rhyme. 20) Make temporal comparisons. For example: "When the company was first founded .." or "When we first moved to this office ." and "Many challenges are still the same" or "The situation now is so different". 20) Repetition can be effective. 21) Try humor and puns. 22) Beware of speaking for too long. Keep it short and simple. 23) If you are speaking to an international audience (especially if your words are being translated into other languages), don't use any of the language-specific tips such as alliteration, rhyme or puns and be careful not to use culturally-specific allusions or organisational jargon. 24) Lastly finish with a strong, affirmative statement, possibly referring back to the opening sentence or question. read less