How to Deliver a Speech

Mastering your tone and body language is the formula for a successful delivery.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Briefcases
• Index Cards

1. Approach the podium confidently and put your notes in a place where you can see them easily.

2. Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Look at the audience, pause and begin speaking. If there is no microphone, project from your diaphragm, not your throat.

3. Set the tone in your introduction with appropriate facial expressions and diction, and a specific mood (such as folksy or hard-hitting).

4. Make eye contact with people in different parts of the audience, including the back row.

5. Pause briefly after you state key points to allow the audience time to absorb the information. Also, use natural and relaxed hand gestures and facial expressions to emphasize certain points.

6. Pronounce your words clearly and vary your rate, pitch and volume to keep the delivery lively.

7. Refresh your memory by periodically glancing at your notes, but avoid reading from your notes directly unless you are reading a long quotation.

8. Close your speech by thanking the audience and then confidently exiting the stage.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice! Videotape yourself to discover distracting habits such as swaying back and forth, saying 'uh' and 'um' too often, or making nervous gestures.
• If you stumble on a word, it's a sign you should slow down.
• While preparing your speech, make your notes easy to read by writing them in large, neat letters.
• If you need to test a microphone, using your voice is the best method. Aggressive blowing or tapping can damage the delicate internal parts.

[Luzzy794]

on 9/28/2007 This helped me so much , I'm running for vice president of my class this year and it helped a lot. Awesome tips!

[cudd]

on 6/20/2007 From my own experience when I was asked to be a best man, I thought yes what an honour but then, oh no, the speech. Luckily I could write poetry, so I wrote a poem and also luckily I hit the jackpot, it went down a storm, it was perfect and I had accolades all night from lots of guests and photographers. So I created my own website to help other guys and it has been very successful and I am so lucky to have had so much superb feedback from guys who were clearly quite nervous.

The beauty of a personalised poem is the fact it is personal, you can read it, and given time to practice, it can be delivered in a meaningful way and last but not least, you don’t have to let on it wasn’t you who wrote it!! But the real beauty is it is a comfort to the best man in case of emergencies; panic attack, too much to drink, etc. So if anybody wants help, I would be delighted to help out, just check ou

[DjDennis]

on 10/9/2006 Try these Tips: --
It's easy to see why most guides recommend that three minutes is quite long enough for a wedding speech! keyed up by wedding jitters, buoyed up by champagne, often unaccustomed to facing an audience of people, every speaker longs to do well, yet dreads putting both feet in their mouth. And if you've never (or hardly ever) had to make a speech before, it's easy to panic. The most common traps are speaking faster than normal, stumbling and adlibbing to cover up, and speaking well over the three minute time limited. THERE ARE JUST FOUR KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL SPEECH MAKING.

1. Keep it short, keep it clean, learn it by heart. Remember to bring your notes and don't be afraid to use them!
2. Use numbered postcard size notes with one sentence or short paragraph printed in bold clear writing on each. They don't get lost, they don't rustle and they fit comfortably into a suit pocket.
3. Rehearsal is a must! Persuade a friend to listen and watch, or use a tape recorder and talk to the bathroom mirror.
4. Light humor and gentle jokes are warmly received in any wedding speech, but be aware of clumsy phrasing or risqu頪okes which might embarrass or offend any member of the wedding party or guests. Cliches about the Bride in her Nappys (or the Groom without his), innuendo about previous relationships and mother-in-law jokes are definitely OFF the wedding speaker's list (but you have the choice).

Finally, remember you have lots of friends among the guests, all of whom want your speech to go over well just as much as you do!.....

on 8/8/2006 If you need anything in a speech, it is passion. If you aren't interested in giving a speech, then your audience will be bored. If you have passion (or act like you do) then your audience will be more entertained.

on 2/23/2006 Right before you speak in a big place (or even a classroom) you should eat a little, healthy snack. A small snack like a banana, apple, or a granola bar. Great little snacks to eat in the morning. If you speak more near noon, and you didn't eat breakfast already, eat a big lunch about an hour before you speak. It will raise your blood sugar and make you less nervous.