Don't be a speech element fundamentalist. Many speakers insist that the content is the most important aspect of a speech or presentation. Others hold that it's the structure that rules, and still others argue that the delivery is all-important.
I confess that I had always held that the content of a speech or presentation was more important than any other aspect. I was wrong. Of course the words are important, very important. Having something worthwhile to say is a great advantage when you are saying something.
But even the best content can be ruined by an illogical structure or rendered incomprehensible if the presentation is delivered poorly.
Content, structure, delivery are each equally important in a presentation or speech. The presentation is a three-legged stool supported by content, structure and delivery. Leave one out and you'll flop.
I suspect most speakers begin their speaking career favoring one or another of those legs-the one they are best at, naturally. If ideas are important to you, you might be predisposed to focusing on content. Strong writers may pay more attention to structure while those blessed with good speaking skills might over indulge on the delivery side.
Good content, organized well, and delivered properly is the very definition of a successful speech or presentation. What happens to that same speech or presentation if any one of those three elements fall flat? Even if the other two elements were stellar, that won't be enough to save that speech.
Don't make the mistake of working on your strengths while ignoring your weaknesses. Have great delivery skills? Then hone your writing skills and take another look at the structure of your presentation. What you do well is not what needs attention.
