DELIVERING MEMORABLE

SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS

NIGEL A.L. BROOKS

THE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Article reprint
DELIVERING MEMORABLE SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS

The effective delivery of a powerful speech or presentation is just as

important as the underlying message. An audience may be convinced or
persuaded by a poor presentation if the message is sufficiently compelling.
However, an audience is more like to be entertained, informed, convinced,
or persuaded if the speaker is likable, engaging, and not annoying or
irritating. It is essential for a speaker to be remembered positively if they
want to build future relationships with an audience.

Speeches are given to larger audiences with whom the speaker may not
necessarily have a relationship; presentations are given to small audiences
where the speaker does or wants to have a relationship.

A successful speech or presentation is a package of words and techniques

that deliver entertaining, informative, convincing, or persuasive messages
to an audience memorably. Whereas the words must be chosen carefully
based upon the wants and needs of the audience, the effectiveness of the
delivery is as much based upon physical skills, content organization, and
handling of questions and answers.

Physical skills:

The physical delivery should be on point and time with no distractions.

Establishing eye contact one person at a time creates a two way

communication channel that draws the audience in and reduces
nervousness:

● Gives the appearance of control

● Establishes thought patterns based upon audience responses

Coordinated voice and gestures enforce messages:

● Vocal projection and animation - changes in speed and tone

emphasize points

● Physical animation - gestures emphasize points and project

enthusiasm

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Stationary feet project confidence:

● Establish a central position and posture

● Use gestures to control nervousness

● Walk around to the audience or to visual aids

Podiums create a barrier effect and should be avoided unless absolutely

necessary:

● Don't touch

● Use big gestures when behind them

Content organization:

Extemporaneous content should describe stories and incidents, either

prepared in advance or composed on the spot, that is delivered without a
script or notes.

Prepared content should be organized to inspire the audience. Scripts work

best for speeches to larger audiences and for formal presentations where
precision is essential. Notes should be used as a guide:

● Collect thoughts by point and then address the audience with eye
contact

● Don't read verbatim

● Use pauses to make the points more distinct

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Visual aids support spoken words:

● Keep simple

● Visualize the verbal messages

● Use blanks for pauses

● Explain the highlights then the details

● Use up to seven bullet points that are mutually exclusive and

collectively exhaustive, with up to seven key words per point

Lighting and music must not distract but can change the mood of the
audience:

● Relax and soothe

● Stimulate

Questions and answers:

Asking for questions engages the audience. The speaker should clarify
when questions will be invited - throughout or at a designated point before
the summary and wrap-up. For large audiences, questions can be
submitted on cards, but must be treated fairly.

Use questions as an opportunity:

● Acknowledge the questioner and thank them for their insight

● Restate the question back the the audience - rephrased to help frame
or clarify the original

● Respond rationally and unemotionally

● Relate to the material

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 ***

A successful speech or presentation is not accident. It requires knowledge

of the background and expectations of the audience to whom thoughts
have been prepared and translated in words that are delivered memorably.

Delivering memorable speeches and presentations requires understanding

the personal styles of the audience.

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For more information...

For information about audiobooks, books, earticles, ebooks, and eseminars

offered by The Business Leadership Development Corporation visit
www.etailia.com

For more information about the discipline of enterpriship visit

www.enterpriship.com

For more information about understanding personal styles visit

www.understandingpersonalstyles.com/demo

To assess your individual competencies in thirty minutes or less, claim

your opportunity for instant access when you go to
www.individualcompetencies.com

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About Nigel A.L Brooks...

Nigel A.L Brooks is a management consultant to entrepreneurs, business

enterprise owners, executives, and managers, and the enterprises they
serve. He specializes in developing the entrepreneurial, leadership, and
managerial competencies that build sustainable advantage from vision to
value. He is an author and a frequent speaker.

He obtained his professional experience as a partner at Andersen

Consulting (now Accenture, Ltd.), as a vice president at Booz Allen
Hamilton, Inc. (now Booz and Company), as a senior vice president at the
American Express Company, as president of Javazona Cafes, Inc., and as
president of The Business Leadership Development Corporation. He has
been a contributing editor for the Bank Administration Institute magazine,
and has served on boards of entrepreneurial networks. He was educated at
the University of Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom.

His clients are in the financial services, food services, high-tech,

manufacturing and distribution, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, professional
services, retail and wholesale, transportation, and government industries.

He has experience in North and Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

www.nigelalbrooks.com

About The Business Leadership Development Corporation (BLD)...

The Business Leadership Development Corporation is a professional

services firm that works with entrepreneurs, lifestyle business enterprise
owners, executives, and managers, and the enterprises they serve.

BLD develops entrepreneurial, leadership, and managerial competencies

that achieve performance excellence by building sustainable advantage
from vision to value through:

 Strategic Management Consulting

 Executive Coaching and Mentoring
 Professional Training via The Center For Business Leadership
Development (CBLD)
 Motivational Speaking

www.bldsolutions.com

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 THE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85032 USA
www.bldsolutions.com
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