In the end

Fellow speaker,

The conclusion of your speech:

• Refocuses lost audience attention – introduce conclusion
• Helps audience retain important ideas – summarize
• Generates any required follow-up – call to action
• Provides closure to the presentation – closing statement

Concluding,

Tim

Changing...

Fellow speaker,

When you have a large speech to give make sure your transitions:

• Occur at regular intervals – occur every 10 to 12 minutes – timing
• Build links between your points – create a logical flow your audience can follow easily – tying one idea to the next
• Create interest in your next point – renew audience interest and get them ready for the next point

Moving on,

Tim

Being useful

Fellow speaker,

When thinking about how the audience will use your ideas ask:

• How will the audience use what I have just told them?
• What is an example/story of how to use it?

Usefully,

Tim

Every presentation

Fellow speaker,

Every presentation gives:

• Usefulness
• Example/story
• Benefits
• How to realize those benefits

Presenting,

Tim

Ways to hook

Fellow speaker,

Hooks (ways to get your audience's attention) in your speech should have:

• Sight - what does it look like?
• Sound - what are the sounds of it?
• Touch - what happens when you touch it?
• Feel - what feelings does it cause?

Hooked,

Tim

Hooking

Fellow speaker,

Get your audience's attention by putting hooks in your speech:

• Recaptures audience attention
• Creates emotional links between your ideas and your audience members

Hooking 'em,

Tim

Middle ground

Fellow speaker,

The middle of your speech has:

• Hook – refocuses audience attention from subject to subject
• Application of ideas – “How to” – usefulness of product
• Benefits – WIIFM – advantages of subject
• Transitions – timely, effective flow from subject to subject

In the middle,

Tim

Before the beginning

Fellow speaker,

The speech introduction someone else reads before you begin your speech gives your:

• Background
• Significance
• Credentials
• Lead-in – focuses audience attention

Introducing,

Tim

Openers

Fellow speaker,

Here are some ways to open your speech in your speech introduction:

• Anecdote – short account of an interesting or humorous incident
• Humorous story – has to be humorous (no “bombs”)
• Involving question – make your audience think about the answer to your opening question – focuses your audience's attention
• Shocking statement – shatter your audience’s expectations

Opening up,

Tim

In the beginning

Fellow speaker,

Your introduction:

• Gets your audience’s attention
• Sets the tone for presentation
• Creates a bond between the speaker and the audience
• Provides a lead-in to the body of the presentation

Purposefully,

Tim

Think visual

Fellow speaker,

A prop or other visual aid:

• Focuses your audience's attention
• Reinforces your message
• Illustrates factors that are hard to visualize
• Stimulates interest in your point

Pointedly,

Tim

Brainstorming made easy

Fellow speaker,

Here is an easy way to brainstorm ideas for your next speech:

1. Write each possible idea down on index card, sticky note, or spreadsheet (consider your own expertise as well as audience interests)
2. Arrange your notes on a wall or large chart and start organizing them in logical order
3. Don’t edit them yet – find or create subpoints to your main ideas
4. Start eliminating the rest of the points which are not main points or subpoints – end up with between 2 and 5 main ideas

Storming the brain,

Tim

Do/think/feel

Fellow speaker,

For every speech, ask what you want the audience to do, think, and feel.

With feeling,

Tim

Chain reaction

Fellow speaker,

How your characters react in your story are the heart of your story. For example, If you want your character "Bob" to get a strong reaction from the audience, make sure other characters in your story have a strong reaction to "Bob".

Reactively,

Tim

Defender

Fellow speaker,

Imagine someone is questioning you over every slide in your presentation. "Why did you put this slide in? Why do you need to have this slide?" How would you answer them? If you can not defend the purpose of a slide in your presentation, leave it out.

Defensively,

Tim

slides and stories

Fellow speaker,

Have an interesting story to go with your slides.

Keeping it interesting,

Tim

Evolution

Fellow speaker,

Make an emotional change in the characters in your story. For example, if a person starts the story angry they end up in the story becoming more calm.

Changeably,

Tim

Here and there

Fellow speaker,

Pull your audience into your story with phrases like, "If you had been there, you would have seen me...", or "if you have ever been in a traffic jam, you know how I felt...". This keeps the audience focused on your story while at the same time they connect to their experiences.

In two places,

Tim

Agenda

Fellow speaker,

An "Agenda" slide lets people know what is coming next in your presentation.

Upcoming,

Tim

Give me back my bullets

Fellow speaker,

Use bulleted lists and then speak about the details of the bullets during the speech. Use no more than 6 bullets a slide and 6 words per bullet.

Bulleted,

Tim

Make 'em big

Fellow speaker,

When you use visuals in your slides, make them big, so they can easily be seen by everyone in the room.

Bigly,

Tim

2 per slide, please

Fellow speaker,

To keep your slides from getting too "busy" and "cluttered," put no more than 2 visuals for each slide in your presentation.

Visually,

Tim

Keep it simple

Fellow speaker,

Keep your slide images simple. If you have to spend a lot of time explaining what you have put on your slide, your slide image is too complex.

Keeping it simple,

Tim

Your assignment is...

Fellow speaker,

To get the audience involved in your presentation give them an "assignment". Give the audience a task to complete or something to listen for in your presentation and they will be forced to pay attention to what you are saying and doing.

Assigning,

Tim

I feel your pain

Fellow speaker,

Find out the "pain area" for the people you are speaking to and focusing on speaking to the audience's "pain".

Painfully,

Tim

Youify

Fellow speaker,

"Youify" your speeches and make sure we say "you" to your audience often. This makes sure your speech stays focused on your audience and their interests.

Youing,

Tim

Questions questions

Fellow speaker,

When you give out a speaking questionnaire for the presentation planner to fill out, get it back at least 30 days before your speaking event.

Preparing,

Tim

In the beginning...

Fellow speaker,

When you get to a speaking event, there is not enough time to focus on practicing the entire speech again. So only focus on delivering a great opening story: if the opening story goes well, it will get everyone interested in your speech.

Speechifying,

Tim

Picture this...

Fellow speaker,

Before giving your speech, take the time to visualize it in your mind, seeing it go well and making a strong impact on your audience. If you can see the speech going well in your mind, you can work to bring this "mental view" into "physical reality".

Really really,

Tim

How many chairs do you need?

Fellow speaker,

If there are more chairs than people at a speaking event, put away (or move out of the way) the extra chairs so that the audience sits together (and doesn't spread out in little pockets all over the room). This will keep your audience's energy focused and powerful.

Powerfully focused,

Tim

Making friends

Fellow speaker,

Make friends with the wait staff so they will take your suggestions. For example, you could suggest no wait staff serve while you are speaking.

Friendly,

Tim