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How to Get an OBE
1.Introduction
This is not about the Queen’s honours list; it covers the Opening, Body and Ending of a speech. The Opening is to hook the attention of the audience. We will look at what constitutes a good opening and share some opening techniques with you.
The Body should aim to sustain the level of interest attained in your opening remarks. Again I will share some techniques that enable a logical sequence to be followed.
For the Ending, think of your first sentence then your last and bring them as close together as possible is one technique used but we will look at some other ingredients to ensure a speech is finished on a high.
Think about the 10 o clock news where the newsreader tells you what he is going to tell you, he tells you and then he tells you what he told you.
2.Opening
A successful Opening should have:
Audience Attention: As you begin speaking your audience may be thinking about the horrible journey they faced on the way to the meeting, or they may be talking with those sitting next to them. Their attention needs to be refocused on you. A good beginning draws their attention to you and to your presentation.
Introduce the Topic: The beginning of your speech should indicate what you will be talking about and why your audience should be interested in it. When listeners understand the topic and how they will benefit from listening to your speech they will immediately pay close attention.
Establish Rapport: Your listeners will be more receptive to you and your message if you appear friendly and interested in them and show interest in your subject. Smiling, displaying enthusiasm and making eye contact are effective ways to establish rapport with the audience.
Less than 5%-10% of Speech: An opening should take less than 5% to 10% of your speech. Most of the time should be spent on the body.
3.Opening Techniques
Importance of Topic: Tell your listeners why the subject is important to them. For example, in a speech concerning over exposure to the sun the speaker may begin by saying “a golden tan may be glamorous, but overexposure to the sun can age your skin prematurely and can cause skin cancer. Thus, it’s important to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun”. Make a Startling Statement: Startle your listeners with an intriguing statement that will compel them to listen further such as “Smoking kills. More Americans die each year than were killed in battle during World War II and Vietnam together”.
Arouse Suspense or Curiosity: Compare these two openings:
i)Hello, I’m your speaker ‘My Name’ and I’m here to give some clues on what foods to avoid so you can have less disease and less stress.
ii)Ladies & Gentlemen: Would you like to add 20 quality years to your life? Then THINK before reaching for your salt seller. I’m ‘My Name’ and I’m going to share with you 10 easy proven steps to add those 20 years to your life.
Tell a Story or Anecdote: Telling an amusing tale or dramatic story or anecdote arouses interest & gets the audience involved. Keep the story relevant to the main point of the speech and personalise it whenever possible. For example, instead of beginning “Two men were swimming in the sea, say “My brother & I went swimming in the sea”.
Ask a Rhetorical Question: Ask one question or a series of questions that relate to your speech subject. The audience will think about an answer and thus your subject. For example, in a speech about first aid, a speaker could begin by asking: “Do you know what to do if your child starts to choke”?
Begin with a Quotation: Using a quotation is an easy and effective way to attract attention. Used properly a quotation can add authority to your speech, amuse your listeners or dramatise your speech point.
4.Some Don’t Do’s
Don’t Use Opening to Restate the Title of Your Speech: You need every moment to create interest and suspense; don’t go over what is already known.
Don’t Open with an Apology: Some consider that this makes you sound friendly and not self-important, but apologies can set your audience to listen for your weaknesses.
Don’t Explain Your Presence: Don’t offer explanations about why you think you were asked to speak. Remember that you are there for a good reason, you know it and the audience knows it.
Don’t Say How Difficult it was to Choose the Subject: As far as the audience is concerned your topic should be so vital that you never doubted its importance, and you should communicate that vital nature.
5.The Body
The Body should follow a logical sequence with frequent signposting, leading the audience through the speech towards the objectives.
You have to work to keep the audience attention level high. There are many ways to add interest to the Body. Here are some suggestions:
·Examples: are an excellent way of keeping attention and interest and are particularly useful to illustrate a point. When used, the example should be a typical and not an exceptional one;
·Statistics: can also be useful but make sure they are meaningful. Statistics are most effectively presented by using visual aids;
·Questions: Throughout the body of the speech you can involve your audience by asking for a response or ask a rhetorical question for a change of emphasis. For example, “how many people here today believe that the government should proceed with its austerity measures”? Or the rhetorical question where the speaker poses a question and then answers it himself: You may be wondering why the government has implemented such austerity measures…….. The reasons are ………
5.1 Smooth Transitions
Speeches are made up of many parts that must fit well together – transitions are responsible for much of that fitting. They take you from your opening into the body of your speech and provide a smooth passage between your main points. Here are some examples:
·Bridge Words: The simplest transitions are bridge words – words that alert the listener that you are changing direction or moving onto a new thought. Examples include: Furthermore, Meanwhile, However, In addition, Nevertheless, Moreover, Therefore, Consequently.
·Trigger Transition:relies on repetition, using the same word twice to connect one topic with the next. “That wraps up our assessment of product A, A similar assessment can be made of product B”
·A question can serve as a good transition. The question can be broad or quite specific.
·Apoint by point transitioncan also work. For example, “there are 3 important reasons this product will sell in Europe" and then listing them is a quick way to shift from generalities into specifics.
·Pausing is a non verbal transition that helps your audience shift with you.
6. The Ending
A successful speech closing meets 4 criteria. They are:
i)Achieve a Sense of Closure: A speech without a proper conclusion is like a joke without a punch line. The listeners are left hanging. People need and expect closure. ii)Summarise Your Main Points: An effective conclusion repeats and reviews key points developed in your speech. Repetition reinforces your speech’s message. iii)Make An Impact: A good ending makes a lasting impression on your audience. People remember longest the last thing they hear. iv)Takes Less Than 5% to 10% Of The Entire Speech.
6.1 Closing Techniques
Use a Quotation: Used properly, a quotation can add authority to your closing. Keep it short and relate it directly to your speech topic.
Tell a Story or Anecdote: A powerful story or anecdote can make a memorable close. We touched on this point earlier in the Opening techniques.
Call for Action: If your speech was intended to persuade or urge your listeners to take some kind of action, your closing statement should clearly explain what action they should take. Ask a Rhetorical Question: We have covered this in the Opening techniques. For example “You may ask, can we afford to do this? I ask can we afford not to”?
Refer to the Beginning of your Speech: Tie your closing words to the beginning of your speech.
Good speeches require strong, logical structures so please consider the above points when preparing your next speech.
For advice on how best to improve your presentation skills, contact us for a free informal chat……………..…………....................…together YOU can!
