TEN questions you should ask ahead of ANY speech or presentation

Here’s the checklist:

1.        Who is this speech FOR? 

Consider the audience. How are they feeling? What’s on their minds? Perhaps there’s an elephant in the room. Maybe there’s an issue that’s already dominant. The more you can understand the audience’s hopes and fears the better.

2.        What do you want them to DO?

You need a goal. Do you want them to invest? Or buy? Or come back next year? Or laugh? Or donate? Or come together? Or break away? If you don’t have a clear sense of what you want from the audience, the speech will be pointless.

3. What’s the ONE BIG IDEA?

Yes, I know you have SEVEN great ideas. But realistically, the audience only remembers ONE. So, what’s the big idea of the speech? If I had to write a headline for The Times tomorrow ‘XXX said YYYYY” – what would that be? No big idea? Think harder!

4.        What is the cleanest STRUCTURE? 

A full script might sometimes tie you down, but a structure sets you free. Beginning, middle, end. Problem, solution, call to action. Character, challenge, conclusion. Simple structures work. Don’t overcomplicated the content.

5.        How can you HOOK them? 

You need to grab attention early – within the first 10 seconds ideally. Can you say something that’s immediately relatable? A little aside about sport? Or something in the news? A reference to the location? A challenging question? A confession?

6.        Got a METAPHOR?

Ok you don’t 100% NEED a metaphor, but boy does it help. A lot of great speeches turn an abstract idea into a ‘picture phrase’. Are you going supersonic? Or reaching for the stars? Or digging for gold? Or compiling a playlist? The big idea is probably LIKE something.

7.        Do you have a STORY?

Again, you don’t NEED it, but if you want to cut through, then stories are the easiest way. Has anything happened in your life that illustrates the idea or the argument? When did you first understand the problem? With stories, relatable is better than epic.  

8.        What about HUMOUR?

Look at your slides. Are they dry as dust? Is it all just way TOO SERIOUS? Come on, lighten up! Even just a little remark about drinking too many espressos is better than nothing. Decide you will have a little fun (unless somebody died or something).

9.        Have you EDITED?

Despite my advice to pursue clarity at all times, I bet that extra slides, charts, facts and figures have snuck their way in. Every piece of information must EARN ITS PLACE in the presentation. If it’s not really adding anything, then get out the red pen…

10.  Is there a clear PAY-OFF?

Speeches need a call to action. Or a punch line. Or a motivating final idea. If you are to inform, persuade or inspire then, the ending is critical. What’s the one line you want to echo in the minds of the audience as they head off for coffee? It can’t just be ‘thanks’.

That’s it. Find good answers to those 10 questions, deliver in conversational style, and you’ll be better than 90% of speakers.

Good luck! 

If you would like public speaker training or media training for your senior leaders, then please reach out to me on LinkedIn or via mike@sergeantconsulting.com or www.sergeantconsulting.com