Tags |
|
|
Links |
|
|
Will You Add? - Steps to Easier Speech Writing
We go to meetings to share information, to report on project status, to make decisions, to get the free lunch, and because we were invited. (Sorry that I digressed). This is only a partial list – there are many other valid reasons for holding meetings.Perhaps the most common and best reason for a meeting though is to solve a problem. A meeting is a great place to do this – you get a variety of people with a variety of experiences, knowledge and perspectives together to ensure that the best possible solution is identified and that all of the important considerations have been taken into account.The problem is, that while the venue and the people might be correct, often the process is flawed. It is flawed because one question hasn’t clearly been asked and answered.The Typical SituationHave you ever been in a meeting where 20 minutes (or an hour or more) into the discussion of th
• SPEAK LIKE THE EXPERT. Given the fact that you are the one in front on the audience, it is safe to assume that you know more than the majority of those listening to your speech. So go up there with the confidence that you are the expert. You've done your homework, you have researched and rehearsed your material and you have it down cold. Confidently make your way to the stage and give them what they are waiting for. I have yet to find an audience that wants a speaker to fail. In fact most audiences are very forgiving when you stumble (both physically and verbally), many even offer some assistance during these awkward times. Before you go on stage, breathe deeply a few times and practice say
What about using graphic if your PowerPoint presentation? Does it make sense? I'm sure you heard something like "our graphics will make your presentation looks professional" or "make it vivid", but you still must understand why you use or do not use graphics in your presentation.The first fact is that pictures are easier for visual perception than text, but pictures will not contain as much information as text will. So, use pictures to add some life to your presentation, to point on key concepts and ideas.Second fact, having pictures in your presentation is a good way to differentiate between slides. People will remember more if they will have a visual image of what you are talking right now.Third, in fact, if you what presentation to look professional then you don't need to full it with hundreds pictures. It wound be enough to add a company logo, sometime it is necessary to add more graphics
• SDRAWKCAB KROW. (Work backwards) Think of your speech as if it were a road trip. You wouldn't start out on the road if you didn't know where you were going. If you had to crunch your entire presentation down to one or two sentences what would they be? Once you know these one or two sentences you have your theme and the message you want your audience to walk away with. Now you can build a well-organized speech your audience can follow. Keep referring back to these one or two sentences and insure your not headed off on a verbal detour as you are writing your speech. Ask yourself, "Does this add to or take away from my message?" If it takes away from it, even a little bit, dump it from your content.
• FIND THE FACTS. Every once in a while you will be asked to speak on a subject that is not a part of your core capabilities. Here it is very important that you spend the time doing the research to insure you get all the facts, and that you get them straight. Luckily for us the Internet has made this task far easier than it was in the past. However, there is another side to that coin. The Internet has made available a mass of information that can quickly intimidate even the veteran speaker. So zero in on your message and weed out the information that does not add to that message. In your research do not forget about the old faithful resources like newspapers, libraries etc.
• GRAB THEM FROM THE BEGINNING. Take the time create an opening that hooks your audience from the very start. Some ways to accomplish this are moving stories, disquieting statements, humor, famous quotes, and though provoking questions. Whichever technique you use, use it powerfully and use it effectively. Your opening is just about the most important part of your speech. You want to take their mind away from whatever they are preoccupied with and focus their attention on your message. An effective opening does this for you. An effective opening will also build rapport and credibility with your audience so use it to your advantage.
• THEME IT AND SPICE IT UP. The human mind does not learn in swells of information. It learns in small increments. So one of the greatest retention tools you can build into your speech or presentation is a repetitive theme. Your theme will serve as a great memory aid, helping you through your presentation from opening to close and giving a level of continuity to your audience. Be sure to theme your title as well! Use the title and the introduction of your presentation to get your audience interested in the topic before you have uttered a single word. Again, you will need to know exactly what your speech's goal is then theme the title to accomplish that goal. For example, if your objective is to share with your audience ten ways to save on their taxes, then a possible title could be "Taxes ? from their pocket to yours, not the other way around." Then use anecdotes to drive home the message of your speech and your theme. Collect stories and anecdotes and store them away for future use. You can get them from newspapers, magazines and on the web. I have two file folders full of material that I pull out when I need a story to help me drive home a point.
• SPEAK LIKE THE EXPERT. Given the fact that you are the one in front on the audience, it is safe to assume that you know more than the majority of those listening to your speech. So go up there with the confidence that you are the expert. You've done your homework, you have researched and rehearsed your material and you have it down cold. Confidently make your way to the stage and give them what they are waiting for. I have yet to find an audience that wants a speaker to fail. In fact most audiences are very forgiving when you stumble (both physically and verbally), many even offer some assistance during these awkward times. Before you go on stage, breathe deeply a few times and practice sayi
Rejection. All of us have experienced it at some point in our lives. It never feels good. Call it what you want, but accept the fact that ultimately you lost. You were not selected. I particularly like the synonym “spurned.” That really makes you feel great, doesn't it? Got any rocks laying around that you can craw under?So you have been rejected. Now what? How can you turn this into something positive?I recently was courted to speak at an upcoming conference. I jumped though all the proverbial hoops and was excited about the opportunity. Then guess what happened? I was uninvited. Yes, my ego was dented. After all, they wanted me. They courted me. Something queered the deal. Was it that they didn't want to pay my fee after they offered me an honorarium? I guess I won’t know. I spent about five minutes feeling sorry for myself and trying to determine the perfect plot to get "even.
• FIND THE FACTS. Every once in a while you will be asked to speak on a subject that is not a part of your core capabilities. Here it is very important that you spend the time doing the research to insure you get all the facts, and that you get them straight. Luckily for us the Internet has made this task far easier than it was in the past. However, there is another side to that coin. The Internet has made available a mass of information that can quickly intimidate even the veteran speaker. So zero in on your message and weed out the information that does not add to that message. In your research do not forget about the old faithful resources like newspapers, libraries etc.
• GRAB THEM FROM THE BEGINNING. Take the time create an opening that hooks your audience from the very start. Some ways to accomplish this are moving stories, disquieting statements, humor, famous quotes, and though provoking questions. Whichever technique you use, use it powerfully and use it effectively. Your opening is just about the most important part of your speech. You want to take their mind away from whatever they are preoccupied with and focus their attention on your message. An effective opening does this for you. An effective opening will also build rapport and credibility with your audience so use it to your advantage.
• THEME IT AND SPICE IT UP. The human mind does not learn in swells of information. It learns in small increments. So one of the greatest retention tools you can build into your speech or presentation is a repetitive theme. Your theme will serve as a great memory aid, helping you through your presentation from opening to close and giving a level of continuity to your audience. Be sure to theme your title as well! Use the title and the introduction of your presentation to get your audience interested in the topic before you have uttered a single word. Again, you will need to know exactly what your speech's goal is then theme the title to accomplish that goal. For example, if your objective is to share with your audience ten ways to save on their taxes, then a possible title could be "Taxes ? from their pocket to yours, not the other way around." Then use anecdotes to drive home the message of your speech and your theme. Collect stories and anecdotes and store them away for future use. You can get them from newspapers, magazines and on the web. I have two file folders full of material that I pull out when I need a story to help me drive home a point.
• SPEAK LIKE THE EXPERT. Given the fact that you are the one in front on the audience, it is safe to assume that you know more than the majority of those listening to your speech. So go up there with the confidence that you are the expert. You've done your homework, you have researched and rehearsed your material and you have it down cold. Confidently make your way to the stage and give them what they are waiting for. I have yet to find an audience that wants a speaker to fail. In fact most audiences are very forgiving when you stumble (both physically and verbally), many even offer some assistance during these awkward times. Before you go on stage, breathe deeply a few times and practice say
If you are looking for an easy fundraising idea to raise money for your child's youth activity, this is one of the best methods I have ever used and it is incredibly simple. In addition to being easy, both the kids and the parents had a great time. It also provides great visibility for your group in your community and leaves people with a positive view towards your group.By using this method we were able to raise just under $900 in just two four hour weekends to supplement our child's travel hockey team.Ok, ready? No, it's not a car wash. Although these are popular they require quite a bit of work to get setup. You must find a good location with traffic; have access to water, buy plenty of supplies, dry towels, signs etc. Plus you are always subject to weather conditions.What we did was simply find a grocery store that would allow us to sack groceries for their customers and offer he
• GRAB THEM FROM THE BEGINNING. Take the time create an opening that hooks your audience from the very start. Some ways to accomplish this are moving stories, disquieting statements, humor, famous quotes, and though provoking questions. Whichever technique you use, use it powerfully and use it effectively. Your opening is just about the most important part of your speech. You want to take their mind away from whatever they are preoccupied with and focus their attention on your message. An effective opening does this for you. An effective opening will also build rapport and credibility with your audience so use it to your advantage.
• THEME IT AND SPICE IT UP. The human mind does not learn in swells of information. It learns in small increments. So one of the greatest retention tools you can build into your speech or presentation is a repetitive theme. Your theme will serve as a great memory aid, helping you through your presentation from opening to close and giving a level of continuity to your audience. Be sure to theme your title as well! Use the title and the introduction of your presentation to get your audience interested in the topic before you have uttered a single word. Again, you will need to know exactly what your speech's goal is then theme the title to accomplish that goal. For example, if your objective is to share with your audience ten ways to save on their taxes, then a possible title could be "Taxes ? from their pocket to yours, not the other way around." Then use anecdotes to drive home the message of your speech and your theme. Collect stories and anecdotes and store them away for future use. You can get them from newspapers, magazines and on the web. I have two file folders full of material that I pull out when I need a story to help me drive home a point.
• SPEAK LIKE THE EXPERT. Given the fact that you are the one in front on the audience, it is safe to assume that you know more than the majority of those listening to your speech. So go up there with the confidence that you are the expert. You've done your homework, you have researched and rehearsed your material and you have it down cold. Confidently make your way to the stage and give them what they are waiting for. I have yet to find an audience that wants a speaker to fail. In fact most audiences are very forgiving when you stumble (both physically and verbally), many even offer some assistance during these awkward times. Before you go on stage, breathe deeply a few times and practice say
It’s quite common that new graduates look for a job painfully after their graduation. The main reason behind the difficulty is their lack of real work experience. However, there are more channels than they may expect that can help them track down great job opportunities.Post resume onlineWith Internet users increasing, more and more employers choose to post jobs online. You should use a reliable online recruiting website to post your resume. Thousands of employers using this service every day to search jobseekers’ resumes, so with a well-prepared cover letter and resume you will have lots of chances to have their attention.You can visit the section “Entry level/Internship” on VietnamWorks.com where you can find many job openings suitable to new graduates.Visit Company Web SitesMany companies and organizations post their job openings right on their own Web sites (usually under an
• SPEAK LIKE THE EXPERT. Given the fact that you are the one in front on the audience, it is safe to assume that you know more than the majority of those listening to your speech. So go up there with the confidence that you are the expert. You've done your homework, you have researched and rehearsed your material and you have it down cold. Confidently make your way to the stage and give them what they are waiting for. I have yet to find an audience that wants a speaker to fail. In fact most audiences are very forgiving when you stumble (both physically and verbally), many even offer some assistance during these awkward times. Before you go on stage, breathe deeply a few times and practice say
This is HUGE. This is tsunami in the making. Small business financing is on the brink of tapping into billions and billions of dollars that previously shut it out.The signs are quiet. One venture capital firm announced that it had just funded an internet startup for $250,000. Another announced it had just brought in a new partner whose previous background was in angel investment. A third announced it would be sending a senior partner to a business plan competition.Don’t get me wrong. Every one of these things has happened many times before. But this time it is different. This time they are announcing it.One of the closest guarded secrets in venture capital is that venture capital firms do indeed make small investments, and have for as long as anyone can remember. These small loans are typically made to startups that just need a jolt of cash to get to the first stage, to give them bre
• SPEAK LIKE THE EXPERT. Given the fact that you are the one in front on the audience, it is safe to assume that you know more than the majority of those listening to your speech. So go up there with the confidence that you are the expert. You've done your homework, you have researched and rehearsed your material and you have it down cold. Confidently make your way to the stage and give them what they are waiting for. I have yet to find an audience that wants a speaker to fail. In fact most audiences are very forgiving when you stumble (both physically and verbally), many even offer some assistance during these awkward times. Before you go on stage, breathe deeply a few times and practice saying these words: Red leather, yellow leather. This will not only take you mind off the butterflies in your stomach but it will help loosen up your lips and tongue.
• PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Read the material to yourself 5-10 times quietly. Read the material 5-10 times aloud. Make a voice recording of your practice. Review your tape and see where you want to change things. Practice your presentation in its entirety in front of a mirror. Here you'll make changes in your facial expressions. Video tape yourself. Now you are working on your overall presentation and body language. Finally you can give a practice performance to a safe audience. Solicit their feedback and incorporate it into your presentation.
• NOTES? This is a double-edged sword. It is better to have you material down so you can give your speech from the heart rather than from the card. But I know from experience that having those notes can be a lifesaver. 3x5 cards are well suited for carry around notes. They can be easily concealed on your body for quick and easy retrieval. Then cupped in the hand they are not as distracting as having an 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper. If you are going to be behind a podium then full size paper is quite effective. On your notes put down the key ideas for each area of your speech, rather than creating word for word notes. By creating key word or key idea notes you will avoid the temptation of reading your speech from your notes. This will enable you to easily connect to and build a better rapport with your audience.
• CLOSE WITH A BANG. Here you will wrap up your entire speech and give your audience something to take away with them. That something could be new information to contemplate, or a call to action. Be sure to reinstate the importance of the speech to them. Remember all audiences listen to WIIFM, What's In It For Me? So share with them the value of your speech to them. If you took step one and worked backwards you've probably already created your closing. Often your closing will work hand in hand with your opening, taking them back to the beginning, but now with the new information and call to action that you have presented.
Writing an effective speech is easy to some but a task to most. However, it is always a rewarding experience once you have created it, rehearsed it and presented it. When your audience comes up to you one by one and thanks you for your new information, your inspiring ideas or your motivating talk, you will be filled with pride and glad that you took the time to do it right.
Think successfully & Take Action!
Tracy Brinkmann
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.atriclecheck.com/article/34905/atriclecheck-Steps-to-Easier-Speech-Writing.html">Steps to Easier Speech Writing</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.atriclecheck.com/article/34905/atriclecheck-Steps-to-Easier-Speech-Writing.html]Steps to Easier Speech Writing[/url]
Related Articles:
I Run A Small Business - What Information Should I Get From My Bookkeeping Or Accounting System?
Adding Images to Your PowerPoint: Public Domain, Royalty-Free, and Rights Managed Photography
Bookmark it:
|