Successful Speeches Blog

What’s the most important part of your speech or presentation?

Is it your content? Your platform skills? Your visual aids? The flow of your speech? The way it’s written? The words you use? Some intangible no one can seem to define?

I’ll tell you what I think the most important part of your speech or presentation is … it’s you. Some people prefer to use the word “authenticity”, but I think “you” is more appropriate. “You” make or break your speech. “You” connect with the members of your audience. And when “you” are part of your speech, your authenticity shines through.

As a speechwriter, I’m a stickler when it comes to organizing and choosing your words with great care, but I’ve seen and heard speakers who defy the rules and still “wow” their audiences.

As a person who’s performed professionally on stage, I’m a firm believer in outstanding stage presence and voice mastery, but I’ve seen and heard speakers with little stage presence and less-than-impressive voices who have audiences hanging on their every word.

As a keynote speaker, I know how important charisma can be when it comes to captivating your audience, but I’ve seen speakers, who are more cuddly than charismatic, manage to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Now matter how often it happens, I’m always amazed by a speaker’s ability to give a successful speech despite doing the opposite of what “experts” suggest. And whenever I analyze what did make the speech successful, the speaker’s authenticity is always part of the equation. It’s not the whole equation, but it’s always a part of it.

Once of my colleagues, Brad McCrae, recently suggested I watch a video of Malcolm Gladwell, author of “Blink” and “The Tipping Point”. Gladwell delivered the talk at a TED conference in 2004. Although Gladwell is a brilliant man and successful author, he’s not what I would consider “charismatic”. When I watch and listen to him, I feel as if I’m watching a mix of Sideshow Bob and Jerry Seinfeld. He seems to use hand gestures to try and get the words out of his mouth and his movement seems a little aimless. That being said, I couldn’t help watching the speech from beginning to end and then watching it all over again.

 

 Podcast Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Why did I find it so compelling to watch? First, the content was original, practical and worth listening to. Secondly, he’s a very interesting character. He’s not “polished”, but he’s himself. Not that I’ve ever met him, but I get the feeling, from watching him, that he’s not trying to be someone he’s not. His “character” is as much a part of his speech as his “content”.

I encourage you to watch the video and find out what you can learn from spaghetti sauce.

The next time you write a speech, make sure you read it out loud. Whether you’re writing the speech for someone else or for yourself is irrelevant. The only way to tell if your speech sounds good is to read it out loud. Just reading it in your head doesn’t have the same effect.

I’ve had clients tell me they don’t read a speech out loud because they speak differently than the person they’re writing the speech for. Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter. You should read the speech out loud anyway. When you read the speech out loud, you are able to tell if it sounds conversational. You’re able to test for the rhythm of the words. You’re able to determine if words need to be reorganized. If you just read it in your head, it will sound fine. When you read it out loud, the words and phrases that sound unnatural and awkward are exposed.

If you’ve read my blog in the past, you know my theory on music and speeches sharing the same elements. Can you imagine a musician charting a song and not actually playing the notes? Of course not. Once the notes were charted, any musician would play the notes to make sure they sounded right. What they look like on the page doesn’t mean squat if they don’t sound good to the ear.

The same is true for your speech. What your speech looks like on paper doesn’t mean squat if it doesn’t sound right. More often than not, what looks good on paper will make you sound like Niles Crane from the sitcom “Frasier”. By the same token, what looks grammatically incorrect on paper sounds perfect when it comes out of a speaker’s mouth.

 

 Niles Crane: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I know my clients think I’m patronizing them when I tell them to read the speech out loud before commenting or asking for any changes, but I do it because you can’t tell a successful speech by the way it looks on paper … you have to read it out loud.

It may sound like an oxymoron, but it beats sounding like a moron if one of your ad-libs comes off the wrong way.

Mike Huckabee, an ordained baptist minister and presidential candidate, found that out the hard way while giving a speech to members of the National Rifle Association at their convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

When a loud noise from backstage interrupted him in mid speech, Huckabee departed from his script and said:

“That was Barack Obama. He just tripped off a chair. He’s getting ready to speak and somebody aimed a gun at him and he — he dove for the floor.”

His words rang out like a shot. Even the majority of the audience didn’t know how to take his comments.

 

 Mike Huckaabee's Barack Obama Joke Backfires: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It only took five hours for him to issue an apology for his inappropriate and offensive statements. Ironically, Huckabee said he didn’t even remember saying the line and that he had to watch the recording of the speech to realize he had said it. You know what? I believe him.

I’m not excusing him, but I do believe he had no clue what he was saying when he “misspoke”. I know I’ve given speeches and immediately forgotten some of what I had just said. If you’re fully involved when you’re presenting, there are so many things going on in your head that you often operate on auto pilot. That’s why I suggest planning your ad-lib remarks in advance.

Distractions and unexpected events are bound to come up if you regularly give speeches, so you should plan some quick one liners in advance of giving your speech instead of trying to think up something clever on the spot. Off the top of my head, here a list of scenarios you should plan for:

unexpected loud noise (breaking glass, etc …)

PowerPoint slides freeze up

lights going out

audio equipment fails or doesn’t play on cue

laughter, music, distractions from another conference room can be heard in your room

you trip or drop something

The list is endless. Maybe you can add some that I’ve missed.  Unexpected things can and will happen when you present. Don’t wait for those moments to try and come up with something witty. Plan your ad-lib in advance.

Do you find it difficult to come up with effective openings for your speeches? If you do, you’re not alone.

The opening of your speech is often the most difficult to develop and deliver. It’s the most difficult to develop because there are a number of potential objectives the opening has to achieve. It’s the most difficult to deliver because the opening of a speech is when we are most nervous.

Not only is your opening the most difficult to develop and deliver, it’s arguably the most important part of your speech. You see, if you don’t have your audience’s undivided attention when you open your speech, it’s unlikely you’ll have their attention at all.

In this 60 minute teleclass, “How to Successfully Start Your Speech”, I’ll show you a number of strategies which will help capture audience attention, pique their curiosity and build interest in your topic during the crucial first moments of your speech.

The Teleclass takes place on Wednesday, November 21, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. EST

For all the details, visit http://www.wellwrittenwellsaid.com/teleclass.html

Even if you can’t attend the live call, you’ll be able to receive a full transcript and recording when you register.

I hope you’ll be able to make it.

Is it too late to say “I don’t want to do this anymore”?

After reading Paul Lima’s book “How To Write A Non-Fiction Book In 60 Days”, I felt motivated, energized and up to the task. Eight days later, I’m wondering what the heck I’ve gotten myself into. Actually, I think I started feeling that way three days into the process.

So far, I’ve written the introductory chapter and created eight chapter outlines. There’s a possibility I’ll be adding two to four more chapters.

As I mentioned in my first post, I’m a little hesitant to do some of the writing exercises Paul has suggested in his book, but I’ve been finding it difficult to get my creative juices flowing recently. If this keeps up, I may just break down and do the exercises in hopes the Muse will want to come out and play.

So far, I’ve found my greatest moments of creativity happen when I’m riding the subway. That’s right … I ride the subway from one end of the line to the other and then back again. I find it much easier to write while riding the subway than when I’m sitting at my desk. While some people would find the subway to be too distracting (the Toronto subway system is always busy), I find it easy to get into a groove. With the exception of being kissed by a crazy lady (not that you have to be crazy to kiss me), my rides have been distraction free and very productive.

Now that I think about it, I should probably go for a ride …

So there you have it. My quest to finish my book in 60 days is off to a good start. Chapter 1 is finished. To be honest, it’s been finished for quite some time, but I did a few edits to it this morning and feel like sharing it with you.

The chapter is an introduction to the topic of “How to Make Your Speech Sound Like Music to Their Ears“. Once you’ve read it, I would love to hear your comments and questions … especially your questions. I would like to add an FAQ section to the first chapter, so I welcome any questions you have about the subject and how you can use the method when you prepare speeches.

Enjoy.

If you want your speeches to persuade your audiences …

If you want your speeches to inspire your audiences …

If you want your speeches to move your audiences to take action … make your speeches sound like music to their ears — literally!

Why music? Because music and successful speeches have two things in common: the effect they have on people, and the elements they contain.

THE EFFECTS

Music and successful speeches are easy to remember. I’m not going to be rude and ask your age, but I’m willing to bet you can remember songs, word for word, that you haven’t heard in 10, 20 … maybe even 50 years. I’m also willing to bet you can remember some signature stories, analogies and phrases you heard in speeches several decades ago. This doesn’t happen by mistake. Both music and successful speeches are structured so that it’s easy for the listener to remember them.

Music and successful speeches are also repeated by those who hear them. Have you ever heard a song you liked so much, you couldn’t help but tell a friend about it? Have you ever heard a song on the radio and then caught yourself singing the song? Have you ever found yourself singing a song you couldn’t stand? My answer to all of the above is a resounding “YES”! The same is true of successful speeches. Have you ever repeated the phrases “I have a dream”, “ask not what your country can do for you”, “the only thing to fear is fear itself” or, more recently, “yes we can”? It’s not a coincidence, because both music and successful speeches are structured in such a way that others will repeat their words.

Music and successful speeches are responded to by their listeners. If you’re the type who enjoys people watching, you’ve probably seen what I refer to as “Karaoke Shopping Stars”. These are your run-of-the-mill adults who saunter down the dairy aisle and break into song and dance when one of their favourite oldies starts to play over the P.A. system. Without giving it a second thought, they end up responding to the music. I highly doubt a speech will ever cause someone to dance in the dairy aisle, but people respond to successful speeches. They respond by donating to charities. They respond by casting their votes. They respond by increasing their productivity at work. Once again, this isn’t a coincidence, because music and successful speeches are developed so people will respond to them.

If your audience remembers, repeats and responds to your speech, then you know you have a successful speech.

THE ELEMENTS

There are eight essential elements in music that also exist in successful speeches — eight essential elements that make your speeches sound like music to the ears of your audience.

The Chorus

In music, the chorus is the central theme of the song. The chorus is the reason the song was written. In your speech, the chorus is the theme or main point of your speech. The chorus is your reason for delivering the speech.

The Hook

In music, the hook is the catchy part of a song (it may exist in the chorus) that you can’t get out of your head. It’s the part that people sing to themselves over and over. In your speech, the hook is the word, phrase or sentence that people remember and repeat long after your speech has been given.

Verses

In music, the verses of a song help you to better understand the chorus. They tell the whole story. In a speech, your verses will have the same role: to bring clarity to the chorus and tell your story.

Musical Interludes

In music, musical interludes indicate you are making a transition from one part of your song to the next. In speeches, your musical interludes serve as points of transition from one thought to another or one section to another.

Mood

In music, every song creates a certain mood. People will often listen to music to get into a mood or get out of a mood. In speeches, you also have to set a mood that is appropriate for the audience and the occasion.

Rhythm

In music, rhythm is the variation of the duration of sounds (notes) within a certain time frame. In speech, rhythm is the variation of word length and sentence structure.

Expression

In music, expression marks are used to describe how notes are to be played: soft, loud, with feeling, etc …
In a speech, expression describes how much or how little emphasis you give to particular words and phrases.

The Bridge

In music, a bridge serves as a point of transition that signals the end of the song is near. The transition usually takes the song to a higher level of emotion before “connecting” back to the chorus. In a speech, the bridge is used to reflect on the speech and then segue into the final chorus.

That’s it! Well, kind of. Because just knowing what the eight essential elements are isn’t going to make your speech sound like music to their ears. You’ll need to understand how to incorporate those elements into your speeches.

That’s what I’ll be sharing with you throughout this book. And whether you’re a politician, professional speaker, CEO, consultant, team leader, communications specialist, world-class athlete, student, preacher, teacher or entrepreneur, this book will show you how to develop and deliver speeches that will improve your powers of persuasion, build your reputation and move your audiences to take action.

Whether you write speeches or deliver them … whether you are new to giving speeches or experienced … once you incorporate the eight essential elements into your speeches, audiences will say your speech sounded like music to their ears — literally.

So … are you ready to make beautiful music together? Good. Music, Maestro!

I’ve been sitting on a partly-finished book for about a year now.  The book is based on my signature keynote, “How to Make Your Speech Sound Like Music to Their Ears“.  Although I’ve had moments of inspiration and intense focus, the all-important task of writing the book has often given way to the urgent (and sometimes trivial) day-to-day tasks.

In an effort to create some inertia, I read Paul Lima’s recently-published book, “How To Write A Non-Fiction Book In 60 Days“.  Paul has written a number of books, so I know he knows what he’s talking about.  As with his other books, he breaks down the process into step-by-step procedures that are manageable and easily tracked.

Since I’m already part way through writing my own book (and have written one in the past), the first few chapters were a review for me, but they’ll be worthwhile to anyone who’s going to write a non-fiction book for the first time. I’m also a little resistant to doing some of the exercises he’s suggested, but I can see the value in them if you have the patience to work through them (patience is not one of my strong suits).

What I found most valuable about this book was the outlining process. One of the reasons I’ve gotten stuck is because my outline needs a little more work and focus. I’m pretty sure that following the process Paul has laid out in the book will give me that little extra “something” I’ve been needing to get inertia working in my favour.

Even though I’ve already started, I’m still going to give myself 60 Days from today to complete the first draft of my book.  If you’re thinking about writing a non-fiction book, or if you’re stuck and need to get back on track, I recommend picking up a copy of Paul Lima’s book.

And please feel free to check up on me to find out how my project is coming along.

It’s been said that practice makes perfect. And while that may be true for many things, it’s not true in public speaking. In public speaking, practice does not make perfect … it simply makes permanent.

Don’t get me wrong. To stand in front of a group without practicing is to invite failure. I would never advise any speaker to get up and give a speech or presentation without having practiced. But if you have bad habits which you’re unaware of, you’ll end up practicing and reinforcing those bad habits. In effect, practicing those bad habits will make them permanent, not perfect.

If you want to avoid reinforcing bad habits when you present, I suggest recording yourself on video.

Do you remember the fable, “The Emperor’s New Clothes“? You’ll often find colleagues may not want to tell you about your bad habits, but the video camera won’t lie. Like the innocent child who pointed out the obvious to the emperor, the video camera will reveal EVERYTHING you do.

You may be surprised to see yourself jingling change in your pockets, rocking from side to side like a pendulum, assuming the “fig leaf” position, scratching your back against the wall or hugging yourself for dear life. Good, bad or ugly, it will show up on your recording. Consider this a good thing.

Once you’ve identified your bad habits, you can work on modifying them or eliminating them altogether. In some cases, you’ll be able to fix your bad habits on your own. In other cases, you’ll need the advice of someone who has experience as a presenter or a coach. Depending on your budget and goals, you have a few options.

Option 1: Get advice from an experienced presenter in your organization. If there is an individual in your organization who is recognized for his or her presentation skills, you may want to ask that person to critique you and give you some suggestions and/or feedback.

Option 2: Join Toastmasters. If you want to get frequent opportunities to practice speaking in public, Toastmasters is the place to be. You can find Toastmasters groups who meet regularly all over the world. Check out their website to find a Toastmasters group in your area.

Option 3: Hire a speaking coach. If you want to eliminate bad habits and move your presentation skills to a higher level, you should give serious consideration to hiring a speaking coach. As with any discipline, not all speaking coaches are created equal. This means it’s important for you to work with a coach who is capable of bringing out the best in you without trying to change who you are as a presenter.

In any case, it’s always a good idea to practice your speech before you deliver it … just make sure the video camera is rolling.

If you have any other tips for identifying and eliminating bad habits, feel free to comment.

On April 4, 2008, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot down on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was only 39, but he had spoken more meaningful, powerful words than most people ever speak in a full lifetime. And although he is most widely know for the “I have a dream” speech, the words that resonate in my soul the most are the prophetic words he spoke the night before his death. The speech is approximately 43 minutes long. I haven’t found a full video recording of it, but the full audio version is available on the American Rhetoric website.

The video clip I’ve included with this post is of the last few moments of King’s speech where he drew parallels between his role in the civil rights movement and the role of Moses in leading the children of Israel out of the wilderness and into the promised land. If you’re not familiar with the story of Moses being allowed to see the promised land but not enter into it, I suggest reading Deuteronomy 34. It won’t explain the whole story, but you’ll appreciate King’s comments much more. It’s hard to believe that King was actually ill before he gave this speech and nearly didn’t attend the event. Here are King’s “famous last words”.

Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop.

And I don’t mind.

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

And so I’m happy, tonight.

I’m not worried about anything.

I’m not fearing any man!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!

 

 Martin Luther King Jr. Mountaintop Speech: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Many people make the mistake of thinking repetition is simply another term for the “rule of three” or “triads”. As I pointed out in my original post on anaphora and epiphora, using repetition in your speeches is not the same as using the rule of three.

What’s the difference?

When using a triad in your speech, repetition is not needed. Here are some examples of triads:

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

“Father, Son and Holy Ghost.” (this one is a trinity)

“Now abide, faith, hope and love …”

“Tried, tested and true.”

“Dull, dry and boring.”

See … you don’t need repetition at all when using triads.

But why use triads at all?

I can’t say I have any scientific evidence or studies to back up this claim (please let me know if you do), but we remember words and phrases more readily when they are packaged in threes. Triads also sound better to the ear than a list of two or four. For example, most people will quote Winston Churchill this way:

“I have nothing to offer but blood, sweat and tears.”

What Churchill actually said was:

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”

Notice how the misquoted phrase actually sounds better than the original? It’s the “rule of three”. Pay attention to trial lawyers, preachers and politicians. You’ll notice they all use triads frequently.

The next time you’re preparing a speech, look for opportunities to use the rule of three. And if you can combine it with anaphora or epiphora, more power to you.