12 TIPS FOR SPEECHES THAT INFLUENCE

• In giving speeches, the audience must be king. An effective speaker shows respect and appreciation for the audience's views and feelings.
  
  
• Many people start to prepare for a speech by thinking about what they want to say. Instead, it's more effective to take a step back and think about the audience's expectations and what they will find interesting.
  
  
• Any hint of persuasion or spin from a speaker can alienate the audience. However, a speaker might influence an audience by presenting ideas and arguments in a way that allows the audience members to make up their own mind.
  
  
• Speeches need a clear theme with only one or two key messages. The theme and messages should be developed and reinforced throughout the speech. It's a common trap to distract the audience with irrelevant detail that doesn't reinforce the main message.
  
  
• A simple three-section structure can be effective.
  
  
• The introduction is the time for engaging the audience's interest and establishing an emotional connection with the audience. This will help to make the audience receptive to the body of the presentation where the key arguments and messages are presented. In the conclusion the key messages can be summarised to aid memory.
  
  
• The greatest asset of a speaker is their personality and presenting themselves honestly. A speaker needs to be natural and not be afraid to show excitement or passion. At the same time, respectful and inclusive language is essential.
  
  
• It will help to speak as informally as possible and from personal experience.
  
  
• Anecdotes, examples and analogies will help to keep the audience's interest.
  
  
• Slides need to be kept to a minimum. If a speech is about influence, then slides are about information. Slides greatly reduce the emotional and human connection between the speaker and audience.
  
  
• In writing a speech for someone else, there is the risk that the speaker will lose the natural delivery and authenticity that comes from choosing their own words.
  
  
• A confident speaker can overcome this by using speaking notes. These offer the speaker short factual statements and comments which they can expand on in their own words. Otherwise, a speechwriter usually needs to spend some time getting to know the speaker's preferences in terms of language, style and content.
  
  

James Groves is a Canberra-based speechwriter and the author of "The Speechwriter's Companion: a practical guide for the business, government and community sectors".

Contact James on 0423 808 262 or at jamesgroves1@iinet.net.au.