Public speaking, whether live or virtual, is one way to substantially build trust and credibility with potential clients in your target market. But to be effective, it has to be meaningful and memorable. How do you put some punch into your message? Organization and word selection are two great places to start.
Here are 4 easy ways to better organize your speech and select your word choice:
- Use a relevant story as an opening. Stories provide meaning, so grab your listeners from the start with a personal story that leads them into the speech's main points. Placing your story in the middle may leave you having to re-capture their attention. Consider short stories to illustrate other points as well. Stories are especially effective when delivering a virtual speech because you don't have the elements of eye contact or body language to measure engagement.
- Summarize your points at key places in your speech. This is especially helpful if you're giving a longer talk or have several points. People can easily lose track of the points you've covered, so periodically summarizing the points provides an easy-to-follow structure, and improves their retention of the content.
- Allow listeners to create a mental picture. Along with stories, use vivid word choices, plus rhetorical devices like similes and metaphors to help listeners visualize your ideas. Instead of saying, "I walked into the old store with its creaky floorboards and strange smell," you might say instead "I walked into the old store, its floorboards creaking under the weight of time, smelling like a room that went for months without fresh air." See the difference? The listener can better sense what it was actually like to be in that room.
- Make room for pauses. Nerves or a tendency to speak quickly can cause you to race through your thoughts, but your listener needs time to process and comprehend your words. Slow down by creating natural places to pause. This usually works well between points or while telling a story. Combine pauses with summarization to create a natural flow to your talk, give your listeners time to absorb your words, and remember your message.