How to Deliver a Great Speech that Will Change Minds and Influence People Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice for Effective Public Speaking

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tips on understanding your audience, holding their attention, knowing what to talk about and what not to include, organizing your speech, perfecting your timing, handling Q&A sessions, and much more. You will also grasp how to put together f

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How to Deliver a

GREAT SPEECH

that Will Change

Minds and

Influence People

Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice

for Effective Public Speaking

Richard Helweg

HOW TO DELIVER A GREAT SPEECH THAT WILL CHANGE MINDS

AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE: TIPS, TRICKS & EXPERT ADVICE FOR

EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SPEAKING

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Helweg, Richard, 1956-How to deliver a great speech that will change minds and influence people : tips, tricks &

expert advice for effective public speaking / by Richard Helweg.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-60138-609-0 (alk. paper) -- ISBN 1-60138-609-5 (alk. paper) 1. Public speaking--Vocational guidance. I. Title.

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Dedication

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Table of Contents

Introduction: What did he say?

The Art of Communication .......................9

How This Book Can Help .........................................................11

Chapter 1: Getting Your Message

Across ....................................................13

The Persuasive Speech of Patrick Henry ................................14

The Inspirational Speech of John F. Kennedy ........................18

The Informational Speech of John F. Kennedy ......................23

A Congratulatory Thank You

Delivered by George W. Bush ..................................................26

Speakers and Speeches ..............................................................35

Case Study: Dr. Bob Rauner, MD, MPH ................................39

Chapter 2: The Building Blocks

of a Good Presentation ..........................43

6

How to Deliver a Great Speech that Will Change Minds and Influence People The Message ................................................................................45

The Audience ..............................................................................50

The Research ...............................................................................54

Writing ........................................................................................55

Auxiliary Tools ...........................................................................56

Practice .........................................................................................57

The Setting ..................................................................................59

Preparing to Deliver ..................................................................61

The Delivery................................................................................62

Feedback ......................................................................................63

Experience ...................................................................................64

Case Study: Dr. Karla Lester, MD ...........................................65

Chapter 3: The Message and the

Audience ................................................69

Abraham Lincoln’s Message ....................................................70

What is Your Message? ..............................................................73

Language and Tone ....................................................................81

A Final Point About Message and Audience .........................84

Chapter 4: The Research ........................87

Ronald Reagan’s Provocative Speech .....................................88

Identifying Facts .........................................................................97

Be Sure of Your Sources .............................................................99

Case Study: Randy Colborn ..................................................103

Chapter 5: The Writing ........................109

The Outline ...............................................................................110

Drafting Your Speech ...............................................................123

Table of Contents

7

Editing Your Work ...................................................................125

Take Your Speech for a Test Drive .........................................147

A Third Draft? ...........................................................................148

To Memorize or Not? ...............................................................149

Nontraditional Presentation Methods ..................................151

Writing Wrap-Up......................................................................157

Case Study: Todd Fitzgerald ..................................................158

Chapter 6: Auxiliary Tools ....................161

Slide Show/PowerPoint ..........................................................164

Print ............................................................................................170

Video ..........................................................................................171

Sound .........................................................................................174

Live Action! ...............................................................................177

Outside the Box ........................................................................181

Knowing How to Use Your Tools ..........................................187

Case Study: Marty Van Westen ..............................................189

Chapter 7: The Setting ........................191

The Venue ..................................................................................193

Working the Room ...................................................................209

Chapter 8: Practice ..............................215

Practice Makes Perfect .............................................................216

Talking to Yourself ...................................................................218

Your Physical Presence ............................................................227

Chapter 9: Preparing to Deliver ...........243

Preparing Yourself ...................................................................245

8

How to Deliver a Great Speech that Will Change Minds and Influence People Preparing Your Materials ........................................................246

Checking it Twice .....................................................................248

A Wrinkle in the Plan ...............................................................249

Chapter 10: The Delivery .....................253

Taking the Stage .......................................................................255

Your Speech Presentation ........................................................256

Timing ........................................................................................261

Environmental Awareness ......................................................262

Chapter 11: Feedback .........................265

Q&A ...........................................................................................266

Audience Surveys ....................................................................270

Host Feedback ..........................................................................271

Conclusion: Putting It All into Action ...273

Glossary ...............................................277

Bibliography ........................................281

Author Biography ................................283

Index ....................................................285

Introduction

What did he say?

The Art of

Communication

Public speaking is an art and a skill. An art form is something that only certain people are capable of doing — a talent that is either inherent in an individual or developed over a long period of time. A skill, on the other hand, is learned through study and experience.

Although some people are born communicators, others come to the role of public speaker through expertise in a particular area, study of the skill of presentation, and experience. An individual might come to public speaking through all these stated avenues; others might come to it down a singular path.

10 How to Deliver a Great Speech that Will Change Minds and Influence People Whether you are a born communicator or a novice needing to prepare for a single presentation, a seasoned public speaker or one that quakes in your shoes at the mere thought of speaking to a group of people, this book is a tool to help you explore the basics and to provide the fundamentals of the art and skill of effective public speaking.

The fundamentals of a skill, whether it is public speaking, cooking, or basketball, are the parts of the act that anyone must consider before taking the action. Those who have engaged in the particular activity many times often come to the fundamentals almost as a second nature, but it is still wise that they consider the fundamentals of the activity on a regular basis. An example might be a basketball player that practices the skill of free throws over and over again. Shooting free throws is a fundamental part of the game that players at all experience levels need to practice on a regular basis. Likewise, a speaker must practice and keep in mind fundamentals such as diction and projection. If these speaking fundamentals are ignored, a speaker will not be understood or heard.

Every speech presentation has a singular goal: to communicate a specific thought. However, you might be asked to deliver many different types of presentations. Speeches are prepared to entertain, educate, and inform. The specific goal of the presentation might differ with each speech, but they all have communication in common. Whether you are giving a toast at a wedding or a keynote speech at a major convention, you must be prepared to deliver your thoughts in a clear and concise manner.

Introduction: What did he say? The Art of Communication 11

Delivery of your speech presentation demands that you understand the art and skill of oral communication. The art of the presentation considers the creativity of the construction of your speech and the manner in which you choose to deliver the speech.

The skill of the presentation demands that you put your thoughts together in a coherent manner and that you can be heard and understood as you deliver those thoughts.

Although it is possible to deliver a presentation that is short on

art, it is impossible to deliver an effective presentation lacking in skill. In the same way that you cannot write an effective paper if the reader cannot read your handwriting, you cannot deliver an effective speech if the audience cannot hear or understand you.

How This Book Can Help

This book is intended to be a step-by-step manual to creating and delivering an effective speech presentation. It begins by examining a speech in its entirety and then proceeds to break the act down into parts to examine every aspect of effective oral communication.

Throughout this book, you will read case studies of those who have experience in effective speech presentations. They have come to effective speech presentations down many different paths. Some of the case studies are from trained communicators, while others have developed their skills because they have expertise in other areas. Some of the individuals are naturally out-going, and others suffer bouts of stage fright. The one thing these individuals have in common is that they are effective communicators. They are, though, effective in different ways.

12 How to Deliver a Great Speech that Will Change Minds and Influence People You also will come across examples of speeches throughout this book. Each of these examples will be used to highlight a specific point and the need for clarity of purpose, which is made many times in different ways throughout this book.

The goal of this book is to help you prepare, rehearse, and ready yourself to give an effective speech presentation and assist you in preparing for unforeseen circumstances that might occur while you present. Every presentation you give will be different because you are communicating with different audiences (even if you are delivering the same presentation); however, if you have a firm grasp of the basic building blocks, you will be able to give your most effective presentation every time.

Chapter 1

Getting Your

Message Across

The most important question you must ask yourself as you begin to craft your speech and continue asking yourself throughout the process of outlining, drafting, and building your entire presentation is, What do I need to communicate? The answer to this question can be one of many.

The words vision, action, mission, and goal are all appropriate and convey a clear and concise idea or plan. Determining what this idea is should be your first task. Without a clear vision defined from the outset, you risk wasting time and energy creating a presentation in which your audience will be engaged and understand.

14 How to Deliver a Great Speech that Will Change Minds and Influence People The Persuasive Speech of Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry delivered the following speech on March 23, 1775, to colonial delegates in Richmond, Virginia. The American colonies were on the brink of war with Great Britain, and Henry spoke to fellow delegates about the need to arm and defend themselves against the Crown.

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disre-spectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.

This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?

Chapter 1: Getting Your Message Across 15

For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth — to know the worst and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House?

Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.

Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation

— the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?

No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet on us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Nothing.

We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.

16 How to Deliver a Great Speech that Will Change Minds and Influence People Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.

Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.

If we wish to be free — if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending

— if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to