A
speech needs time to grow. Prepare for weeks, sleep on it, dream about it and
let your ideas sink into your subconscious. Ask yourself questions, write down
your thoughts, and keep adding new ideas. As you prepare every speech ask yourself
the following questions.
In
one concise sentence, what is the purpose of this speech? 1) Who is the audience?
What is their main interest in this topic? 2) What do I really know and believe
about this topic as it relates to this audience? 3) What additional research
can I do? 4) What are the main points of this presentation? 5) What
supporting information and stories can I use to support each of my main points?
6) What visual aids, if any, do I need? 7) Do I have an effective opening
grabber? 8) In my final summary, how will I plan to tell them "What's
In It For Me?" 9) Have I polished and prepared the language and words
I will use? 10) Have I taken care of the little details that will help me
speak more confidently?