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SIMPLE STRATEGIES
TO
Give an
All-Star Speech
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Did you know that giving a speech tops the list of most
common fears?Standing in front of a group of people,
hoping you don’t mess up, and praying that the words come
out right is frightening.
Try these tips to help you stay calm and give that all-star
speech that you’re capable of giving.

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1. WRITE IT DOWN.
Many people sit down to write a speech
and get so hung up on making it 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’ve gotten your thoughts
down, change it as much as you want or
need to. Rewriting is easy once you’ve
gotten your initial thoughts down on
paper. A word processor on your
computer with copy and paste makes this
a breeze.

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3. Create an outline.
Arrange the key points in the order they’ll fall
in the actual speech. This will help ensure that
you don’t leave out any important parts and
you touch on everything 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.
Otherwise, the audience will lose interest
because they can’t grasp what you’re saying.

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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 you’re
giving a speech at a wedding, for example,
replace: “He got all dolled up to take her out” with
more descriptive language.
Instead, 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’ll 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.
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 interested. Start off
with a small joke relating to the events of the
day. Use small (clean!) jokes throughout the
speech to keep the audience involved and
alert.

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8. Keep the jokes to a
minimum.
Yes, humor is great for speeches. But don’t let
your speech turn into a stand-up comedy act. If
you’re giving a speech, it’s probably because
you have something to say and a point to drive
home. Get to the point of the speech and use
humor sparingly.

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9. Include pertinent information.
If you’re giving a speech about a cause, an
issue, or an organization, include all necessary
information the audience may need. If it’s a
fundraiser, include how the audience can
donate money, the organization’s website, and
any other ways they can help. Strive to
anticipate all audience questions within your
speech.

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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’s time for the big show, the
words will come naturally and automatically.

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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’ll look to the audience. Do
you look nervous? Are you staring down at
the paper? Seeing what you’re doing wrong
will help you to fix it before the speech.

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12. Practice in front of a friend.
After you’ve practiced in front of a mirror several
times, get an outside party’s reaction. Ask a friend or
family member if they’ll listen to you give your
speech.
They might notice things you didn’t and 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 just the front
row. Be careful not to shout into the
microphone, but speak loud enough that
no one will miss a word. 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 your speech. These
allow your audience to follow along with you
and keep on track with what you’re saying.
Visual aids also provide a good memento
for people to take home with them to
remember that speech you worked so hard
on.

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15. Speak from your heart.
The most powerful speeches are those
where the audience can tell the speaker
has a vested interest in what she’s
saying.
Allow your passion to shine in order to
have the greatest impact on your
audience.

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16. Avoid fidgeting.
There’s nothing that shouts ‘lack of
confidence’ quicker than someone who can’t
stand still while giving a speech. This doesn’t
mean that you have to stand like a robot. 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’re saying. This works
best after each main point you want to drive
home. But don’t let the pauses go too long or
use them too often. This makes it look as though
you’re struggling to find the words.

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18. Visualize.
Before you give your speech, visualize what
the room and the stage will look like, and
what you and the audience will look like.
Visualizing is a great help when it comes
time to deliver. It’ll feel as though you’ve
already “been there,” which will make you
more confident.

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19. Time it.
When you’re practicing, time your speech so
you know exactly how long it’ll take to deliver.
If you go over the time limit, trim some
unnecessary sections. And if you have too
much time, add more info or stories.

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20. Stay positive.
Even if you’re giving a speech on a sad or
unpleasant topic, find a way to put a positive
spin on it. Let the audience know there’s
something that can be done, that there’s
hope, or that something good came from it.
Staying positive will 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. Ask questions that
require a show of hands. This is a great way to
warm them up and it’ll lead naturally into the
speech.

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22. Move Around.
Moving is different than fidgeting. Walking
around the stage can help keep your audience
interested and help you reach different
members of the audience because of your
close proximity to all of them at some point
during the speech.

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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.

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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’s important to remember that every person
in your audience took time out of their lives to
come and listen to you. Thank them for
listening and for being a good audience.
They’ll appreciate it and will remember your
speech with a smile.

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With planning and preparation, you can make
an all-star speech with confidence. Practice,
know your subject, and go for it.
Before long, you’ll confidently deliver speeches
that your audience will be thrilled to hear!