In making a speech, it is vital that the speaker gets the message across clearly to his listeners. The audience should get what it is exactly that you want them to know. The length of the speech is irrelevant as long as it fits the time frame you have been given and covers all the bases. These bases are the issue, the facts concerning it, the options they have and the proposal that you and your organization wants to bring up.

The issue should be stated clearly in the beginning of the speech so the audience knows what you will be talking about. The facts should also be laid straight to describe the problem, the causes and what would happen if left unsolved. The people should be given options on what can be done about the issue at hand. The speaker should clearly state what he and his organization believes is the right way to deal with the problem and include the organization's plans, policies and programs concerning the issue. Lastly, always end your speech on a light and hopeful note to give the audience confidence on what your organization can do.

The first step in writing a speech is to get as much information as you can about the topic you will be talking about and the type and size of audience you will be talking to. It will be to your advantage if you could determine beforehand the age-group, dominant sex, religion, culture, occupation and political affiliation of your audience. You can also come up with a better speech if you share certain beliefs and principles with your audience about the issue at hand. Try to put yourself in the audience's seat and think about what you want to hear from the speaker.

Aside from these, you also need to think about how you want your speech to be received by your audience. Think about how you want them to feel and think about your speech and your cause during and after you've delivered your speech.

When you have all this information, you can now sit down and think about what you are going to say. A good speech has to get off on the right foot. You should sound strong and interesting from the moment you open your mouth. Most speeches use jokes that are funny and relative to the topic. This however should be applied carefully as to avoid setting the wrong atmosphere or insulting anybody from the audience. It is also good if you can start by explaining who and why you are there and what the current issue is. It is even better if you add telling the audience why it is just right for them to sit down and listen to what you have to say.

Always remember that how the speech is delivered is as important as the speech itself. If you give off the impression that you are aggressive and pushy, you are sure to alienate your audience. A good speaker should always maintain a calm and friendly voice to avoid sending any unnecessary signals to the audience. He should sound passionate but never aggressive or harsh. This will result in a lack of respect for you and the ideas you are trying to present.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Public Speaking