Speech Zero to Hero–Step 6: Speech Notes

Time limit: 5 minutes If you are running out of time, you can simply take your notes from steps 4 and 5 and use them as your speech notes.  However, I suggest that you condense your notes onto one page Make sure to write or type your notes so that you can easily read them at […]

Speech Zero to Hero–Step 5: Open, Close

Time limit: 10 minutes The opening and closing of your presentation are critical components, and the only parts I suggest memorizing. Your opening is the first impression and your closing is the final impact. By memorizing them, you will sound and feel more confident. You want to open in a way that gets the audience’s attention, […]

Speech Zero to Hero–Step 4: Support Points

Time limit: 15 minutes Now we have come to the meat of your presentation, supporting your points. A few common ways to support your points include: Anecdotal evidence: essentially telling a story or offering a case study—make sure they are relevant! Empirical evidence: research and statistics Logical: reasoning based on facts Demonstration: show how something works […]

Speech Zero to Hero–Step 3: Main Points

Time limit: 5 minutes If you are preparing to give a speech in an hour, you don’t have time to figure out a lot of main points, so keep it to 2 or 3. By limiting the number of main points to 2 or 3, not only will they be easier for the audience to […]

Speech Zero to Hero–Step 2: Big Picture

Time limit: 5 minutes The big picture is knowing your purpose for the presentation and your overall approach to presenting it. #1 Select ONE Specific Purpose (keeping in mind your audience) Decision 1: What is the main general purpose of your presentation?  Pick one (you may include all three, but pick a MAIN one): To […]

Speech Zero to Hero–Step 1: The 2 “Knows”

Time limit: 5 minutes Before you plunge into creating your speech there are a couple of critical things you should know to save time and frustration later: #1 Know: The requirements These may be obvious, but these are things you don’t want to overlook! Date: Time: Location: Length of presentation: Topic: What you are expected […]

Rev and Temi: Transcription Services Review

Want to create content fast? Use a transcription service to turn audio into written documents: Interviews Podcast transcription Speeches Book content Blogs Thought capture Recently, I “debriefed” myself on an important meeting using the native voice recorder on my iPhone, thinking I would use the recording to create a “highlights” document from the 7-minute recording. […]

Gift Books for Presenters

With the holidays fast approaching, you may want to gift yourself a book on public speaking skills.  I’ve read many books on public speaking, but only a few more than once. Consider adding to your library (physical or ebook) one of the 5 books on public speaking that I own and have read more than […]

A Winning Speech Structure: 1-3-1

“Life’s . . . a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”  These are the despairing words uttered by Shakespeare’s Macbeth, after hearing of Lady Macbeth’s death. I’ve often thought they could apply to some speeches I’ve heard. Sitting in the audience, I’ve despaired over the loss of my time, […]