How to Write a Speech

August 11, 2021 By EJ Niemczyk

Think back on all the great speeches you have attended. Try to remember as many details as possible from their speech and what their main points were. However long the speech, you can likely summarize what you remember in under five minutes. Next is your turn to write a speech. The goal is to leave a favorable impression on the audience and make sure they take away your key points. This goal is easier said than done. However, GLO has a few pointers to keep in mind while writing a speech.

Create a memorable opening to your Presentation

The audiences’ attention is your prized possession in a speech. And you either win it or lose it in the opening. A memorable opening creates momentum as you transition into your key points in the speech. Show the audience that they made an excellent decision to give you their time and attention.

Create an outline of your planned speech

Gather all your thoughts into one place. Go over your outline to define your desired ending and what key points you have in place to ensure you get there. Refine the outline until you are confident it is clear and concise. Make sure that every detail on that outline discusses the main message. If you ramble, the audience will know. Their attention will be lost, and you are unlikely to get it back.

Be Brief and Make your Points

You are competing for the audiences’ attention. At some point, you will lose it, no matter how interesting the topic. Make your points with confidence and in an engaging way, then get off the stage. Make sure you wrap up well before their minds start wandering to every other thing they have to do today.

Repeat the message

Imprint the message into the minds of the audience with repetition. The more they hear it, the more likely they are to remember it. Be strategic about where you repeat the message. You want to reinforce your argument, not sound like a parrot. Give it proper distancing and deliver it with good energy.

Be Human

Being perceived by the audience as a human is harder than one may think. To them, you are the speaker. And if they do not like you, they will carry that bias onto your message. Find a way to build a relationship with the audience beyond being an individual on the stage. Relate to them, and they will relate to you. Perceptions of confidence and trustworthiness leave the best impressions. Find the tone that will put you in the best position to be received.

Include Transitions between points

Guide the audience through your speech. Emphasize when you move on to a new point or when you are recapping an important one. Transitions are an excellent opportunity to regain the audiences’ attention or bring those who mentally wandered up to speed.

Close with Power

You want to close your speech with a takeaway. Wrap up all the details of your speech and make one final point. Maybe it is a story or a call to action. The closing is the culmination of everything you have been saying up till this point. Give the audience something to discuss as soon as you get off the stage.

Check out some of our other articles on Speeches

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