“Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.” – Evan Esar

At some or other point in our lives, we’re likely to be called upon to make a speech, be it for a family wedding or a presentation at work. While maintaining a degree of spontaneity is crucial, winging the whole thing is probably not the best option. Instead, taking the time to prepare something solid can leave a memorable impression for years to come.

Two great resources on the subject are Alan Barker’s Improve Your Communication Skills as well as Dale Carnegie’s The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking. Ultimately, it comes down to these things:

Research the audience. Knowing who you’ll be addressing allows you to use an appropriate style. That way, you’re more likely to connect with the specific group by using words and jargon they’ll understand. It also allows you to pick a topic they’ll be interested in hearing you speak about. That’s a must. What you have to say has to somehow tie into helping them solve a problem or achieve a goal. There has to be some sort of emotional connection or else the whole thing will turn into a bore.

Pick a topic. The best topics are obviously those you can be passionate about. We’ve all got a host of valuable struggles and successes from childhood, schooling, work, relationships, hobbies, and more. You’re bound to find something interesting. If not, try browsing through newspapers, magazines, websites, or simply listening to what other people have to say about their lives in the world today. The most important part is finding a simple topic you’re prepared to share passionately and defend if need be.

“No one qualification is so likely to make a good writer as the power of rejecting his own thoughts.” – Alexander Pope

Know your outcome. Every speech needs to have a brief and specific objective. Knowing what you hope to achieve and/or what action you want the audience to take acts as a starting point. It also allows you to organize your thoughts, limit the subject, and prevent talking about too many things. You’ve got to pick the most important points you want to make and talk about them one at a time.

Tell a story. The first draft should be done quickly with editing done a few days later. Grab their attention and arouse their suspense right from the start. Use vivid images to illustrate the points you want to get across. Make the audience feel what you felt when the experience you’re describing happened to you. Take them back in time and let them relate to your story. Make sure each one of your points leaps out and is supported with concrete examples. The more detailed and dramatic you can make it, the better. They’re far more likely to remember something personal that something detached.

“Talk low, talk slow, and don’t talk too much.” – John Wayne

Relax. Even professional speakers get nervous when it comes to public speaking. It’s been ranked as a fear higher than death! So remember that you’re not alone. Also remember that a certain amount of stage fright is useful. It shows you care about what you have to say. In addition to focusing on deep breathing and relaxation techniques, the best way to deal with stage fright is by practicing with family or friends. Get accustomed to what you’ll be exposed to, perhaps at the actual venue if you can manage to make that work.

Enjoy. You’ve got to have fun. Regular pep-talks leading up to the big day can be a big help and keep your mind off negative stimuli that may upset you. Be confident. Act as though the audience has begged and pleaded for you to be there in the first place. Know that they want to hear you talk. This allows you to open up and present yourself. While delivering the speech, make eye contact with people throughout the room or talk just over their heads if you prefer. Speak slowly and let your voice resonate. Most importantly, be yourself. Come alive by reliving the experience instead of simply reading from notes or reciting a memorized speech. Keep the passion and spontaneity alive. That’s what they’ll remember for sure.

About the author: this is a guest post by Eugene Yiga of Varsity Blah. To download your completely free copy of the South African or International edition of Work in Progress, right-click and save the relevant link. Then open, enjoy, and repeat as needed.

I arrived at the Callie Human Auditorium and after a brief introduction it was on to the first speaker. His name was Christo Greyling. He was a haemophilic and consequently needed regular blood transfusions. But everything changed in September 1987 when his doctor told him he was HIV positive. The news came as quite a shock to his four roommates and to his fiancé, Liesel, but it was ultimately their love and support that carried him through.

Shortly after he discovered he was HIV positive, Christo began thinking a great deal about his death. He even went as far as planning his own funeral. One thing he was very clear about was the plan he had for the rest of his life. And so to make sure things happened the way he intended, he wrote a detailed list of all the things he wanted to do, including piloting an aeroplane and going overseas.

Telling the rest of the community about his condition was a very difficult thing for Christo to do. Most of the people he confronted were disgusted and refused to have anything to do with him. But instead of being troubled by that he was able get past their views and still respect those people for their feelings.

While driving home on that still rainy evening, I began thinking about Christo’s talk. I recalled the list of goals, the respect he had for the people that turned him away and the way he was able to deal with the reality of the situation so well. That is when I began to understand the point he was trying to get across: The only way to live is to do so with a clear vision of what you want and an open and realistic mind to take you there.

Christo was very specific about the things he wanted to do and that is why he was able to stay healthy and focused for fourteen years. He was sensible enough to understand that not everyone would be comfortable with his condition and at the same time compassionate enough not to hate other people for the way they felt. All this enabled him to live his life with integrity and make a difference in the lives of others. All this would enable me to do the same.

(Eugene Yiga is the editor of Varsity Blah and his latest book is available free, exclusively from www.varsityblah.com/about)