How to Stay Focused During a Graduation Speech

The human brain can think many times faster than a person can talk. During a speech, the speaker's brain can rush ahead of where he should be in the speech and may even begin to focus on the wrong things. For people listening to the speech, the brain can hear the speaker and go on a field trip of its own at the same time. Unfortunately, as the brain rushes into other areas, speakers and listeners can both lose track of the speech. Read on to learn how to stay focused during a graduation speech.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Paper
• Pen

Maintain Your Focus While Delivering a Graduation Speech

1. Prepare good notes to cover the introduction, main message and conclusion. Write out the stories you will tell and any jokes to want to use during the graduation speech.
2. Review your notes and highlight important sections. You can add delivery notes that will tell you how to say something or point out specific words and phrases that need special emphasis.
3. Practice the speech multiple times until you know each part of the speech without reading from the notes. You don't have to memorize the speech, but you need to know where it is going.
4. Focus on the graduates sitting nearby during the speech. It may help to realize that the speech is for the graduates, and everyone else in the building is simply eavesdropping on the message.
5. Use your notes during the speech to stay focused on what you have to say and how you want to say it.
6. Look away from all distractions catching your attention. Human nature draws your eyes and focus to noises and movement. It is difficult to stay focused on your speech when you are looking at someone to figure out what he is doing.

Listen to a Graduation Speech Without Losing Focus

7. Watch the movements of the speaker. If you stare off into space, it is much easier for you to daydream or get distracted by people.
8. Take notes to help you pay attention to everything said during the graduation speech. If you hear a funny joke or inspirational story, jot it down.
9. Try to picture the story in your mind as the speaker shares his experiences. Imagining the experiences of the speaker helps you stay focused on what she is saying.
10. Relate the stories, advice and motivational aspects of the speech to your own life. Ask yourself how you can learn from the speaker. Applying the information to your life will help you stay focused on the essential message the speaker is giving.

Tips & Warnings

• Maintain eye contact with people in the audience when you give the speech to stay connected with the crowd.
• If you are on the platform, try hard to pay attention to the speaker. If you look bored, the people in the audience will notice and may begin to lose interest as well.