Speaking Tip: Write Your Speech Like You Normally Speak!

Drew Weaver posted 5 tips on his blog entitled, “Some Things To Remember When Giving A Speech.” He had some great ideas for speakers to think about. If you want to read his original post, click here. Drew’s post got me to thinking about…..

So what does a speaker do at the very very beginning of the speech writing process? Here are my top three favorite tips on that subject:

1. Write Your Speech Like You Normally Speak:

Most all people, experienced speaker or not, tend to write more formally than they speak.  So at the very beginning, when you feel yourself beginning to freak out about what you’re going to say or how you’re going to say it in your speech, try thinking about it this way, “If your speech sounds like you speak in your normal life, it’s just right.”

If all the way along you write your speech like you speak, you
will feel so much better up at that podium while delivering your speech
because it will already be written very close to how you speak
normally. This takes SO much pressure off of you as a speaker!

3. Avoid The Traps of Trying To Be Clever, Funny Or Someone You’re Not:

You
will find that this approach to writing a speech from the very
beginning will also help you avoid getting caught up in that old
familiar trap of feeling compelled to sound clever, funny or someone
you’re not. We as an audience came to your presentation because we want
to hear you talk about what you genuinely care about.

So remember, just be yourself and always write like you speak and you can never go wrong!