"Great speech! Did you write it?" How to answer the QUESTION OF DOOM
Being in the audience when a speaker delivers a speech you’ve written is great, for all kinds of reasons. But it does hold one big danger: being asked, “Did you write it?”See if you can spot where this conversation at a banquet table after a luncheon...
Putting the ‘numb’ in ‘numbers’: Don’t let statistics sap your speech’s emotional punch
I recently saw a speech by someone clearly accustomed to the public spotlight and comfortable on the stage. She had an important message to deliver about a profound social injustice. She spoke with authority and confidence.And she spent nearly all twenty minutes of...
A guide to formatting speaking notes
You’ve written the speech, and it has everything: moving anecdotes, a few telling facts, a gripping narrative, a rousing call to action and a conclusion that will have your speaker’s audience on their feet. (Clapping, not leaving. Important distinction there.)...
Wake up your audience by turning up the contrast
Even the most interesting topic can be rendered inert by the simple application of a dull speech. Audiences are human, and they crave a little drama along with their intellectual content.Nobody knows drama better than Nancy Duarte, famous for her concept of the STAR...
May I have your attention, please
In an ideal world, you’d have the audience in the palm of your hand from “CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY” to “Thank you; you’ve been lovely; tip your servers.”But the world of public speaking isn’t ideal. Audiences have a limitless supply of distractions to choose from:...
Why, yes — I’d LOVE to speak at your event
Public speaking and speechwriting: the essential guides
Looking for advice on public speaking, speechwriting and leadership communications? Here are some of my most comprehensive posts, on topics that people ask me about most often.
