Public speaking: types, features, rules, how to learn. Choosing a topic for public speaking

The most important aspect of any speech is its topic. It is often difficult to choose the exact topic of a speech, since the choice of directions is very wide. Interesting topics for speech can be found in all areas of knowledge - the main thing is that what is being discussed is clear and close to the listener.

The main criterion by which the quality of a speech can be determined is its simplicity for the audience to perceive and its engagingness. This can be achieved in different ways.

Among them:

• the use of intonation accents in speech - important points must be emphasized with a voice or pauses;
• lack of excitement, trembling in the voice;
• the presence of information only from reliable authoritative sources;
• introducing elements of artistic expressiveness into speech (it is important to preserve the informativeness of the presentation);
• avoidance of excessive use of negations (particles “not”, “no”, etc.);
• correct construction of the report - the most fascinating facts should be at the beginning, and the most important at the end.

It is also important not to forget about a sense of humor - any topic with jokes will become colorful and interesting. At the same time, the main thing is not to overdo it with humorous inserts, otherwise the performance will not be taken seriously.

The key to an interesting presentation is also the topic.

What is important when choosing a topic for a speech?

Before choosing a narrow topic on which the report will be based, you need to take into account several important facts - without this, the speech will not be successful with the audience.

Reason for speech

Not only the topic, but also information on it is selected depending on the occasion that gave rise to the speech. It can be an official, solemn, festive or sad event. The message itself, like the topic, depends on the reason for the meeting:

• if the event is business, the idea should not go beyond the scope of a specific work issue;
• if the occasion is a festive event, interesting topics for speech may be different, but they should invariably be emotional, sometimes humorous, and in some situations serious;
• if the event is mourning, the direction should be completely official (the specific choice depends on the occasion of the meeting).

At fun events, the topic should be light and interesting; you can include various jokes and funny stories in the speech.

Purpose of speech

The subject of the speech is inextricably linked with the purpose of the speech - you can strive to cheer up the audience, convey important facts to them, or convince them of something. The main goals are:

1. belief;
2. entertainment;
3. informing.

Each goal requires its own facts and its own speech skills.

Inappropriate topics

Even within the framework of an interesting and relevant topic, there may be facts that are better avoided. They may seem boring to the audience or become offensive to listeners.

In this regard, it is useful to refuse:

• incomprehensible or too simple topics, as this distracts attention;
• too sensitive or resonant topics, as this may cause too strong a response from listeners;
• directions that do not correspond to the mood of the audience (that is, the occasion of the meeting).

Audience

It is important to imagine the image of your average listener in order to choose the right topic - you need to understand what is interesting to this person, what he is interested in, what age, gender and what social class he belongs to. The topic must meet these criteria, otherwise it will not be received properly.

It is also important not to focus on too simple and well-known points that listeners already have an idea about.

The education of the lecturer and the audience is important - in front of people of a certain profession it is better to use them in special terms, and in front of children it is better to express themselves simply, ordinaryly and understandably.

The key point is the interests of the audience - it is important that the main issue of the speech is related to them. In order to feel the audience, the speaker must put himself in their place - for example, imagine that he is a schoolboy if the report is addressed to children under 16-17 years old.

Then you need to pay attention to those points that are of interest to this particular group of the population, and not to the lecturer himself.

It is important to choose a relevant topic for listeners based on their demographic data:

• it is better for older people to choose topics that are relevant to them (for example, about pensions), and for young people - those that will be understandable and close to them (fashion, high technology);
• For a multinational audience, it is better to choose neutral but interesting topics for speech or those topics that affect interethnic interaction. These topics will not be popular with listeners of one nationality;
• for a purely female or male audience, it is better to choose topics oriented towards the female or male gender, respectively. Naturally, the context of the meeting must be taken into account.

It may also matter what city or country the listeners are from and in their report they will touch upon topics of concern to representatives of this area of ​​​​residence.

The audience can also be close to the speaker (usually relatives and friends), business (colleagues) or strangers. The subject matter, as well as the content of the report, may change due to this. Communication with friends is more personal, but with bosses or subordinates it is exclusively business-like.

How to choose a speech topic successfully

Firstly, the chosen topic must be interesting to the speaker himself - otherwise he will not be able to reproduce it well and in an exciting way for listeners. Even if the topic is specific and not very interesting, you need to narrow it down to those points that somehow attract the speaker. Then it will be much easier to find contact with the audience.

Secondly, it is better if the lecturer knows the subject he is talking about very well (or you need to study it in depth before the speech). Otherwise, a speech on any topic will not elicit a response even from those listeners who know nothing about it, because they will feel that the lecturer is incompetent in the area he is talking about.

Even if a person does not initially know the topic very well, it is important that it is easy for him to study and understand. This usually works better if the direction of the speech is related to the professional activities or interests of the speaker.

The area of ​​conversation is not so important - it can be poetry, theater, or politics. The lecturer must immediately plan what interesting things he can tell the audience on this topic.

It’s better if you can find a middle ground - choose a topic that the speaker understands and that is interesting to him at the same time.

It is always successful to speak on a topic that is relevant to everyone, especially if there are any controversial issues in this area.

To update your presentation, you can:

• view news feeds or listen to the radio - this way you can find out about the latest news;
• contact newspapers and magazines published in the city on social or political issues;
• learn about the social status, age and interests of the public;
• browse thematic sites and study the latest news from there.

This will allow you to select information that is relevant to a specific audience. For example, you can tell future students about entering universities or tell a funny story from student life, and you can tell expectant mothers about newborns and parenting problems.

It is best to talk about things related to a person’s personal experience - then he will be able to explain it more clearly using personal examples.

At the same time, it is important to follow the narrative and not say unnecessary facts or data that the audience does not need at the moment.

The most interesting topics of speeches

The specific topic is not so important as what is important is that the lecturer presents it competently - then almost any topic will be fascinating and understandable for the listener.

The audience should receive new thoughts and ideas regarding the issue, realize different positions from which to look at the problem.

The problem must be formulated concisely, clearly and intriguingly. Topics that touch on memorable facts are always interesting:

• the lightest metal on Earth;
• what is the fortune of the richest man in the world;
• the largest flower;
• the most unusual records from the Guinness Book of Records;
• the most expensive fruits in the world.

Topics based on unusual facts are also interesting for people, for example:

• how to make jellyfish ice cream;
• how the world's most unusual war without weapons takes place;
• How rapidly technology is developing.

Controversial and interesting topics for public speaking have gained particular popularity, since most often they involve discussion, for example:

• how to become self-confident;
• what to do in case of unfounded criticism;
• Is it possible to overcome alcohol addiction?
• how to quickly get into good physical shape without dieting.

For schoolchildren and students there can be a lot of topics - they are limited only by the subject of the lesson. The following problems are always relevant:

• simple ways to preserve the environment;
• mortality and birth rate: what does the ratio depend on;
• Is it possible to eliminate unemployment?
• how to speak beautifully and convincingly.

There are many common interesting topics for speeches:

• how to overcome laziness;
• what they won’t teach you at school;
• what is the secret of family happiness;
• how a person’s spirituality is expressed;
• what is true love.

For the holidays, simpler themes are suitable, which can be diluted with anecdotes, funny stories, and jokes.

You can prepare an interesting speech on a topic from any field. The main thing is to clearly define the target audience and formulate the narrative in such a way that it is accessible and interesting to every listener.

The history of the world has already met dozens of specialists in oratory, whose speeches we still remember. The most recent geniuses of this art were Hitler, Khrushchev and other politicians who carried out propaganda performances. More often than not, it is politicians who provide an example of how to properly turn ordinary speech into something more, an element of history. You should know that writing texts for speeches brings money, because the topic of the speech can be any, including making money.

But it is not always the case. For example, the last “powerful” speech was given by Steve Jobs in 2005, and it was not a presentation of a new product. Through oratory, he encouraged Stanford University students to strive for their dreams and to look for opportunities in life's failures. Using speech techniques, Jobs touched on vital topics, winning over the audience, and the speech went down in history.

For some, this is a hobby, while others study elocution so that the presentation will receive the highest marks and be useful.

Excerpt from the main part of Steve Jobs' speech

“Sometimes life hits you over the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved it. You need to find what you love. And this is as true for work as it is for relationships. Your work will fill most of your life, and the only way to be completely satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great things is to love what you do. If you haven't found your business yet, look for it. Do not stop. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know it when you find it. And like any good relationship, it gets better and better over the years. So search until you find it. Do not stop".

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't fall into the trap of dogma that tells you to live in other people's thoughts. Don't let the noise of other people's opinions drown out your inner voice. And most importantly: have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you really want to become. Everything else is secondary.”“Stay hungry. Stay reckless."

If you analyze any speech of Steve Jobs, you will notice that it resembles a conversation - it is very understandable, natural and relaxed. Constant pauses, which are an integral part of speech, add emotionality to the text.

Despite the fact that this speech is considered one of the best delivered in modern times, some experts believe that Jobs lacks the correct gestures and body movements and the speech is not the limit of oratory. But we should not forget that for this person this was not an activity, rather it was a hobby and responsibilities as the owner of the company. By the way, the presentation of new technology always looked very exciting.

Where can you find this art?

Yes, almost everywhere, in everyday life we ​​are constantly surrounded by such moments. Sports, friendships or any other part of your life is filled with them. You may not always remember this, but if sport is a part of your life, then where do you look for motivation? That's right, in the words of athletes when they talk in public about their results. Sports, like business or war, require motivation.

What does oratory consist of?

If the topic of eloquence is a hobby for you, then you don’t need to delve too deeply into the intricacies, but you should know the main components of a good speech.

• Preparation. The key to a successful performance directly depends on your preparation for it. The clothes in which the performance will take place require careful selection.

It is important for a girl not to wear a lot of makeup and have a modest appearance. This will position the audience and will not distract attention.

It is important for men to look neat and ironed. Show success and confidence, otherwise the listener may simply not attach due importance to the words.

You need to pay attention to elements depending on your audience. After all, for businessmen, money and the high cost of style will be an important element. For schoolchildren or students, a simpler and more relaxed look is suitable.

• Introduction. You can start with a life story or an unusual phrase that should hook the listener. This technique is called a "hook". The Steve Jobs speech we talked about above had a hook in the form of a joke.

Always use pauses between main parts of speech. This helps you digest what was said and at the same time you can see people's reactions.

The art of oratory is based on the ability to draw images, but only the right images. It has to be something that can be specifically represented, and if it involves numbers, then it needs to be used on slides or translated into something that can be visually measured.

• Main part. Of course, there are no specific rules for the main part, but a couple of tips can be given. Break up your speech in a logical way so that it is clear where you transition into another part of the speech.

Don’t make your speech a monologue, otherwise the listeners will simply get bored and feel like guests. Ask rhetorical or direct questions, draw someone from the audience into a conversation, or call them on stage. Ask to do some task. Speak with energy.

• Conclusion. You can end your speech with a beautiful phrase or take a step back. There is no need to drag out the conclusion and say something else.

You can emphasize the main thing from the speech and begin to lower the tone at the end. Then everyone will understand that the performance is over. The art of concisely and clearly ending a speech requires mandatory practice.

• Personal examples and stories. Now it is difficult to surprise with some facts or insert into the text of the main part something completely new for the target audience.

Therefore, personal stories are on a par with pauses and images in the fundamentals of the art of successful speaking. Let's say if you are a businessman, then it would be good to tell how you made your first money. By telling a story from your life, you bring the viewer closer to you, giving you the opportunity to imagine themselves in your place. And if you write your speech correctly, then you can integrate key points into the story and convey the necessary information to the viewer.

Genre of speech

Oratory is divided into types and a person can delve into any genre. Here are the main directions of this art:

• scientific genre;
• political;
• judicial speech;
• church genre;
• other types of eloquence.

Money as the goal of oratory

Currently, trainings and seminars discussing the topic of how to make money have flooded the Internet. In fact, the Internet contributed to this. It opened up opportunities for earning money, and therefore for learning. After all, before, the main source of independent learning was the book.

An example of millionaires' speeches at universities or online seminars on the Internet - all this relates to business topics where the main goal is to make money. The purpose of these speeches is to motivate the listener, charge them with emotions and the desire to do something. All this is driven by the desire to have a lot of money and be independent. A good way to convert knowledge of oratory into money is to open a school for the practice and study of eloquence.

Judicial speech

Judicial speech as a genre came to us from ancient Greece. Due to population growth, politicians studied oratory, and judicial speech was of great importance at that time. A politician's fate could be decided by his ability to speak in public. In Greece, training in this skill took place and they paid a lot of money for it.

Since in the courts at that time everyone had to defend himself, citizens who had money paid logographers for the text, and judicial speech made it possible to avoid punishment.

A judicial speech, like any other, consisted of an introduction, a main part and a conclusion. The man thus tried to pity the judges and make them believe that his judicial speech was not fictitious.

Judicial practice in ancient times was the property of the people, and many people gathered at the trial, so it was problematic to speak without proper preparation.

Judicial speech as a genre takes place and develops in modern times and can bring money to professionals. All prosecutors and lawyers prepare the text of their speech in advance; this is what distinguishes a good lawyer. To make a judicial speech impress the judge and jury, rhetorical techniques are used.

Example of Lincoln's speech

In 1863, a few months after the bloody battle, Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysbury Address. There is no need to talk about oratory and the attitude towards professional rhetoric; there simply wouldn’t be enough room for techniques. But the text written by Lincoln made tears flow and touched the soul

The public speech lasted only about two minutes, but history will not forget these two minutes. As a result, this speech was carved on a monument at the Lincoln Memorial.

“Eighty-seven years have passed since our fathers founded on this continent a new nation, born of freedom, and dedicated to proving that all men are born equal.”

“We are now undergoing the great test of civil war, which will decide whether this nation, or any nation like it by birth or calling, is able to stand. We came together on the field where the great battle of this war raged. We have come to consecrate a part of this land - the last refuge of those who gave their lives for the life of this nation. And this in itself is quite appropriate and worthy.”

“But still it is not in our power to consecrate this field, to make it sacred, to spiritualize this land. Thanks to the deeds of the brave men, dead and alive, who fought here, this land is already sacred, and it is not in our humble power to add or subtract anything. What we say here will be only briefly noticed and soon forgotten, but what they did here will never be forgotten. Let us, the living, devote ourselves to the unfinished work that these warriors accomplished here. Let us dedicate ourselves here to the great work that lies ahead of us, and become even more determined to give ourselves to the purpose to which those who fell here gave themselves wholly and to the end. Let us solemnly swear that their deaths will not be in vain, that this God-protected nation will have its freedom restored, and that the government of the people, by the will of the people, for the people will not perish from the face of the earth.”

Historians say that Lincoln decided to write the text for his speech himself, taking as a basis the principle of equality from the Declaration of Independence and relying on the great figures of the past. According to eyewitnesses, the performance was so strong that it made the people believe that all the sacrifices were not in vain, and they were not fighting against other states, but were fighting for the freedom of the people and the future of their native state. Just one text allowed people to unite as a family to resist the enemy.

Example of Chaplin's text

Charlie Chaplin's speech test is called in Russian translation “How I fell in love with myself” and has become our history and the main speech of a person. He said it on his seventieth birthday.

True, there are rumors that in fact the example text could have been written by fans from Brazil. There is no clear evidence that this is the work of Charlie Chaplin, nor is there clear evidence of forgery.

Despite this, the speech on the topic of self-love turned out great and deserves attention - an example that can be used for your own purposes.

“As I began to love myself, I realized that sadness and suffering are only warning signs that I am living against my own truth. Today I know that it is called “BEING YOURSELF.”

When I fell in love with myself, I realized how much you can offend someone if you impose on him the fulfillment of my own desires, when the time has not yet come, and the person is not yet ready, and this person is myself. Today I call it “SELF-RESPECT”.

When I fell in love with myself, I stopped wanting a different life, and suddenly I saw that the life that surrounds me now provides me with every opportunity for growth. Today I call it “MATURITY”.

As I began to love myself, I realized that no matter what the circumstances, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at exactly the right moment. I can always be calm. Now I call it “SELF CONFIDENCE.”

As I began to love myself, I stopped stealing my own time and dreaming about big future projects. Today I only do what brings me joy and makes me happy, what I love and what makes my heart smile. I do it the way I want and at my own pace. Today I call it SIMPLICITY.

When I fell in love with myself, I freed myself from everything that harms my health - food, people, things, situations. Everything that brought me down and took me away from my own path. Today I call it “SELF-LOVE.”

When I began to love myself, I stopped always being right. And that’s when I started making fewer and fewer mistakes. Today I realized that this is “HUMILITY”.

When I fell in love with myself, I stopped living in the past and worrying about the future. Today I live only in the present moment and call it “SATISFACTION”.

When I began to love myself, I realized that my mind could interfere with me, that it could even make me sick. But when I was able to connect him to my heart, he immediately became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection “WISDOM OF THE HEART.”

We no longer need to be afraid of disputes, confrontations, problems with ourselves and with other people. Even stars collide, and new worlds are born from their collisions.Today I know that this is “LIFE”.

Churchill's public speech (part)

Churchill was a master at writing speeches. A speech on a military topic in 1940 left no one indifferent and provides an example to follow.

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We are facing a severe test. We face many long months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I answer: to wage war by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can bestow upon us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, the like of which has never been equaled in the dark and sorrowful record of human crimes.

This is our policy. What is our goal, you ask? I can answer in one word: victory - victory at any cost, victory despite all the horrors; victory, no matter how long and thorny the path to it may be; without victory we will not survive. It is necessary to understand: the British Empire will not be able to survive - everything for which it existed will perish, everything that humanity has defended for centuries, what it has strived for for centuries, and what it will strive for will perish. However, I accept my responsibilities with energy and hope. I am sure that people will not let our cause die.

Now I feel the right to demand help from everyone, and I say: “Let’s go forward together, combining our forces.”

Churchill was able to write this text using the art of eloquence. What made this text historic was its directness and honesty of expression.

A month after the speech, England's ally was defeated and captured by the Germans; he wrote another text on this topic and delivered it. Parts of his speech should be found and read, this is a good example if you want to write a speech or your goal is to give a class presentation.

Sports, friendship, family, hobbies - these are topics on which you can write professional texts and use public speaking. Examples or parts of oratorical texts can be found on the Internet or seen on television. This should be done if you want to write a text that is good for reading and speaking. A book about public speaking will also contribute to learning, reading specialized literature has improved my ability to conduct a dialogue correctly, thanks to which friendships with people have become stronger, and a recent hobby has begun to pay dividends.

Not every person can speak beautifully. However, you can interest the public not only by mastering the art of rhetoric, but also by interesting topics. That is why in this article I would like to consider it before the public.

Rules of performance

But you still need to remember that it is best to follow certain rules of speech that will help refine the report and make it easy to understand. In this case, you must adhere to the following simple rules:

Well, it’s worth remembering that you can’t behave pompously. Simplicity, lack of monotony and the presence of pauses are the key to an interesting speech. And of course, a properly selected interesting topic.

Topic and audience

Initially, it is worth noting that any interesting topic for a speech can be. And it will depend on the audience to whom the speaker is speaking. If these are schoolchildren, you can talk about the latest achievements of science, if they are applicants, you can talk about the most in-demand professions, etc.

Nature and ecology

What is an interesting topic for speaking? Why not touch on global issues and talk about the state of modern ecology? How scientists evaluate everything that happens on earth, what cataclysms and problems are caused by this or that human action.

Here you can come up with many different interesting topics:

• The problem of uncontrolled deforestation.
• Transport pollution.
• The most environmentally friendly type of transport.
• Gaining energy from environmentally friendly sources.
• Water pollution.
• Declining global freshwater supply.

Economics and finance

An interesting topic for speech may also concern the economic side. In this case, we can talk about many problems:

• The World Bank and its problems.
• Distribution of material goods.
• Banking system in the native state.
• The state of the country's economy.
• Lending problem.

Social sphere

But still, people will be most interested in hearing about what is closest to them. Therefore, it is often easiest to find an interesting topic for a speech in this block. In this case, you can say:

• About the main categories of people requiring social protection.
• About social orphanhood.
• About the most important Here we can talk about drug addiction, alcoholism, smoking.
• Deviant behavior.
• The problem of organizing cultural leisure.

Work and employment

What other interesting topics are there for speaking? So, in school groups you can talk about employment problems. In this case, you can choose the following topics for the report:

1. Choosing a profession: what should it be based on?
2. during employment.
3. The most requested professions.
4. The highest and lowest paid professions.
5. Rules for writing a competent resume.
6. How to successfully pass an interview and what do you need to know for this?

Policy

What might be interesting topics for the “Politics” section? Here you just need to look at the situation in the country at the moment. If elections are coming up, you can do a short overview of all the parties. You can analyze the work of the government and draw certain conclusions. Or start making forecasts and tell your listeners about your guesses. However, this requires special attention and the presence of a certain amount of useful information. But for a schoolchild this is quite difficult. It is best in this case to simply talk about the latest political news.

Free choice

If you need an interesting topic for a speech on a free topic, talk about what you know best. So, you can tell about your hobby. But it’s not easy to tell what it is. First, you need to delve into history. Next, give a few words to historical or simply famous personalities. Then just tell all the most interesting things.

If you need a report on a free topic, you can talk:

1. About the main problems of the city (or educational institution).
2. On the education of youth: new products, differences from the classical model.
3. About what's missing
4. About the eternal problems of different generations.
5. About how to change, change yourself, your character.

Intimate questions

And the last block, which is no less necessary and important, is sex issues. These are very interesting topics for speaking to an audience, which, unfortunately, in our society everyone tries not to touch upon. But in vain, because today’s youth really lack adequate sex education. Here is a list of sample topics:

• About the first experience of sexual relations.
• Sex: what is it and when does a person need it?
• What are means of protection, what are they?
• When and how can a girl become pregnant?
• What does it mean to be parents?
• When should you start having sex?

There are actually a lot of questions here. And we need to raise them. After all, modern society, unfortunately, does not have sufficient knowledge in this area.

The appearance of the company's leader, his leadership qualities and sales skills determine the success of the enterprise. This is known to PR specialists who write speeches for managers, think over their appearance, teach them how to speak in public and how to place accents correctly. However, even the best PR specialist will not be able to independently turn an ordinary person into a bright personality, a hero of public speeches.

The book by James Humes, a famous writer and former speechwriter for five American presidents, reveals some of the secrets of oratory and creating charisma. Having mastered the techniques offered by the author, you will gain confidence and learn how to easily and successfully cope with public speaking.

1. Pause

Where should any successful performance begin? The answer is simple: from a pause. No matter what kind of speech you give: a detailed presentation of several minutes or a short introduction of the next speaker, you must achieve silence in the room. Once on the podium, look around the audience and fix your gaze on one of the listeners. Then mentally say the first sentence to yourself and, after an expressive pause, begin speaking.

2. First phrase

All successful speakers place great importance on the first sentence of their speech. It must be powerful and definitely evoke a positive response from the audience.

The first phrase is, in TV terminology, the “prime time” of your speech. At this moment, the audience is at its maximum size: every person in the room wants to look at you and find out what kind of bird you are. In just a few seconds, the screening of listeners can begin: someone will continue the conversation with a neighbor, someone will bury their head in their phone, and someone will even fall asleep. However, everyone without exception will listen to the first phrase.

3. Bright start

If you don’t have a bright, suitable aphorism that can attract everyone’s attention, start with a story from your life. If you have an important fact or news that is unknown to your listeners, start right away with it (“Yesterday at 10 o’clock in the morning...”). In order for the audience to perceive you as a leader, you need to immediately take the bull by the horns: choose a strong beginning.

4. Main idea

Before you even sit down to write your speech, you must determine its main idea. This key point that you want to convey to the audience should be concise, capacious, “fit in a matchbox.”

Stop, look and make a plan: first, highlight the key ideas, and then you can supplement and clarify them with real-life examples or quotes.

As Churchill said, a good speech is like a symphony: it can be performed at three different tempos, but it must maintain the main melody.

5. Quotes

There are several rules, the observance of which will give strength to the citation. First, the quote should be close to you. Never cite statements from an author who is unfamiliar to you, uninteresting, or whom you do not like to quote. Secondly, the name of the author should be known to the audience, and the quote itself should be short.

You must also learn how to create an environment for quoting. Many successful speakers use similar techniques: before quoting, they pause and put on glasses, or with a serious look they read a quote from a card or, for example, a sheet of newspaper.

If you want to make a special impression with a quote, write it down on a small card, take it out of your wallet during your speech, and read the statement.

6. Wit

Surely you have been advised many times to add a joke or anecdote to your presentation. There is some truth in this advice, but do not forget that a joke for the sake of a joke only insults the listener.

There is no need to start your speech with an anecdote that is not related to the situation (“It seems that it is customary to start a speech with an anecdote, so here it is. Somehow a man comes to see a psychiatrist...”). It's best to sneak in your funny story mid-speech to lighten the mood.

7. Reading

Reading a speech from a sheet of paper with your eyes downcast does not, to put it mildly, excite the audience. What should we do then? Is it really necessary to memorize a half-hour long speech? Not at all. You need to learn to read correctly.

The first rule of reading a speech: never say words while your eyes are looking at the paper.

Use the SOS technique: look - stop - say.

For training, take any text. Lower your eyes and take a mental picture of a few words. Then raise your head and stop. Then, looking at any object at the other end of the room, tell what you remember. And so on: look at the text, stop, speak.

8. Speaker techniques

It is known that Churchill recorded his speeches like poetry, dividing them into separate phrases and writing each on a separate line. To make your speech sound even more convincing, use this technique.

Use rhyme and internal consonance in a phrase to give the sound of your speech poetic impact (for example, Churchill's phrase “We must follow the principles of HUMANISM, not bureaucracy”).

It’s very easy to come up with rhymes, just remember the most common ones: -na (war, silence, needed), -ta (darkness, emptiness, dream), -ch (sword, speech, flow, meetings), -oses / wasps (roses , threats, tears, questions), -anie, -yes, -on, -tion, -ism and so on. Practice these simple rhymes to create sonorous phrases.

But remember: the rhymed phrase should be the same for the entire speech; there is no need to turn your speech into a poem.

And so that the rhyme does not go to waste, express the key idea of ​​​​the speech in this phrase.

9. Questions and pauses

Many speakers use questions to connect with the audience. Don't forget one rule: never ask a question if you don't know the answer. Only by predicting the audience's reaction can you prepare and get the most out of the question.

10. Final

Even if your speech was inexpressive, a successful ending can fix everything. To make an impression in the finale, tune in, call on your emotions to help: pride, hope, love and others. Try to convey these feelings to your listeners the way great speakers of the past did.

Under no circumstances should you end your speech on a minor note, as this will simply destroy your career. Use uplifting quotes, poems or jokes.