266 / SPEAKING AND WRITING
Delivering your speech
You’ve researched the topic thoroughly, written and organized
your thoughts, and rehearsed your remarks. Use the confidence
that you’ve developed in planning and rehearsal to take the
next step: get up and speak. You are the medium, or bearer,
of the message, and your delivery is critical to the successful
communication of your ideas.
Improving your delivery
As you approach the challenge of
becoming an accomplished public
speaker, keep in mind that no one is
born with great public-speaking ability.
Language is the habit of a lifetime, and
your ability to speak with conviction and
sincerity is a function of your willingness
to work at it. Your skills will improve with
every speech that you make, and as you
master the art of presentation, chances
are that others in a position of influence
will notice and reward you for your effort.
Your ability to speak with
conviction and sincerity
is a function of your
willingness to work at it
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DELIVERING YOUR SPEECH / 267
Step up to the lectern, breathe
deeply, smile, think positively,
and speak
Humanize and personalize your
speech—share your experiences,
values, goals, and fears
Do your best to be one of them
(unless it’s clear you are not)
Use humor where appropriate
(unless you are not funny)
Actively involve the audience as
much as you can
Focus on current local events
and issues known to the audience
Blueprint the speech: tell the
audience where your talk is going
Begin with the familiar, then
move to the unfamiliar
Talk process first, then add
in the detail
Visualize and demonstrate your
ideas where you can
Summarize your key points as
you progress through a speech
Give examples to illustrate your
concepts and ideas
Tell stories, and dramatize your
central theme
MAKE A CONNECTION
Ways to keep your audience interested
HELP THEM UNDERSTAND
Use the confidence that you’ve developed
in planning and rehearsal to take the
next step: get up and speak
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