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#11 Acting Out and Facial Expressions

In certain speeches acting out actions is a good way of engaging with the audience. The visual cue helps them envisage what your words are describing. In another speech facial expression is the way to make an impact, especially if irony is involved. Dramatize the speech. In some ways the close up of the faceContinue reading “#11 Acting Out and Facial Expressions”

#10 Being Quick-Witted

Being quick-witted moves a speaker up from ‘run of the mill’ to arriving on the speaking scene. To really engage with the audience a speaker should take note of things happening on the night, of things that people say and do. If something relevant to the topic of the speech can be found, it canContinue reading “#10 Being Quick-Witted”

#9 Gestures

Gestures must be natural to be convincing. Again, it is experience that teaches the speaker how to use them. Use of precise or expansive gestures tells the audience that the speaker has confidence as a communicator. Certainly it is often the body that betrays the speaker. Their stance is not firm when they don’t feelContinue reading “#9 Gestures”

#8 Vocal Variety

Vocal variety is the loudness or softness of the voice; the tempo which is how fast or slowly the words are delivered; and the pitch which is whether the voice is low and solemn, or high and excited. Vocal variety can be rehearsed at home or mentally visualized if on a train on the wayContinue reading “#8 Vocal Variety”

#7 The Pause

We have looked at speech preparation; now at speech delivery: The successful speaker is the master of the pause. Knowing how to stop a constant flow of words is as important as being able to keep the words flowing. A pause can add suspense, or emphasize the importance of what is being said, or itContinue reading “#7 The Pause”

#6 Humour in Speeches

The best way to succeed in the preparation and delivery of speeches is to add humour, whether the speech is intended to be funny or not. When the audience laughs, they warm to the speaker and listen more attentively. I always feel that an audience’s laughter is the greatest reward of all. I love toContinue reading “#6 Humour in Speeches”

#5 Use of Props

Props are a visual cue. You, as the speaker, have a cue that allows you to present and talk about your prop while showing it to the audience; the audience wakes up and wonders what the relevance of this object is. Audiences are hooked on visual illustrations, although the objects and their relevance are describedContinue reading “#5 Use of Props”

# 4 Anecdotes

No speaker can live without personal anecdotes. When situations occur in one’s own life that are interesting or funny it is worth making a note of them and keeping them in a folder for future use. Also, when you hear of other people’s anecdotes they likewise can join the folder. Most speeches benefit from aContinue reading “# 4 Anecdotes”

#3 Rhetorical Devices

One of the oldest traditions in oratory is the art of rhetoric. Rhetorical devices were used and taught by ancient Greek philosophers who knew how to convince audiences of their new ideas. The human mind likes to hear things in groups of three. Groups of three give balance and rhythm to a speech and areContinue reading “#3 Rhetorical Devices”

#2 Use Bullet Points to Structure a Speech

Speech preparation: I find that speeches come into my mind both unexpectedly and with some reflection. Sometimes I find good speech material when I’m doing research for my books or websites. Other times the speaker club assignment requires a certain thing, so I set about creating the most appropriate material for it. The fundamental thingContinue reading “#2 Use Bullet Points to Structure a Speech”