How to Make Your Next Speech Memorable
As public relations professionals become more established in the field, more and more speaking engagements may come up. Whether it is to a college class, at a professional conference or even on behalf of a client, speeches can become a major part of the profession. While many PR pros are anything but shy, public speaking can still be a difficult skill to master. However, there are a few ways to make your next speech both engaging and memorable.
First, it is vital to be prepared. The key to delivering any speech with confidence is to know exactly what you want to say. Make sure before giving a speech to read through it several times in order to master the content. While you should know exactly where the speech is going, you do not have to memorize it and deliver the speech word for word. Using some ad libs and speaking from the heart over the course of the speech will make the delivery more fluent. Speakers need to find a balance between a natural flow and staying focused during a speech.
Engaging an audience is important in making your speech stand out as well as getting your point across. Some tactics you can use include both rhetorical questions and personal examples. Kicking off a speech with rhetorical questions such as “When was the last time…” or “Have you ever thought about…” may seem cliché but can actually make your audience reflect and engage them into your speech right away.
A couple relevant personal anecdotes or examples can add a great deal of substance to a speech. They will make the speech more memorable and the audience will relate more to personal stories than just statistics and supporting facts. A personal touch is what makes your speech unique and is likely a major reason you are being asked to speak in the first place.
Speeches can be a daunting task for even the most outgoing of PR pros but if you are well prepared and engage the audience, your speech can be memorable and inspiring to all who receive it.