7 Things to do when you give a short speech

7 Things to do when you give a short speech

(source: Inc. Magazine article by Bill Murphy Jr., published May 14, 2014)

1. Decide to present 3 main points.
   An effective 5-7 minute speech allows you to present 3 messages-build your speech around only 3. And 3 is a good number-not too few or too many.
2. Prepare and practice.
   Try out your speech in front of others, time your speech, and rewrite it; “polishing” will improve your message.
3. Know when to quit.
   Once you’ve made you point, finish and sit down. And be sure to time your speech so that you stay within 5-7 minutes.
4. Plot out the course of your speech.
   Plan on a minute for the opening and closing and a minute for each point. The extra two minutes will allow you to run over as you move through your speech. You may want to tell the audience things like, “that was my first point, here is my second”, etc.
5. Give them something to look at while you’re talking.
   It gives them something to look at while you speak, something to visually remember to reinforce your message. It can be a prop, photograph, etc.
6. Share a part of yourself
   Connect your personal experience, feeling, emotion, belief, etc. with your message. And let them hear it in your voice, facial expressions and body language.
7. Make sure you are heard
   The best speeches are as much about making sure everyone can hear you and enunciating clearly as they are about preparing, organizing and practicing. Make sure where you are presenting allows everyone to hear, change your position in the audience or get audio equipment if necessary.