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General
Delivery Guidelines
Know what you
are going to say, not how you are going to say it.
Practice your speech out loud enough times so that your
delivery comes across as conversational, smooth and
confident. However, do not memorize the speech.
Know your
speech well enough so that you will only need a minimal
amount of words
or phrases on your index card.
This will keep your eye contact off
your notes and on your
audience. Having your speech written out word for word on
index cards is simply an invitation to read your speech to the
audience.
Be aware of
distracting elements and strive to correct them while
speaking.
For example, if you have a habit of
speaking too rapidly, then
monitor yourself while speaking to make sure you maintain
an understandable rate. You might put notes on your index
cards like "slow down" or "pause".
DO NOT start
speaking until you are fully situated in front of the audience,
and have taken
a deep breath!
Take a moment to collect your
thoughts before starting – this
will give you a much better sense of control. Avoid the
common temptation to start speaking on your way up to the
lectern and finish speaking while walking back to your seat.
Realize that
NOTHING will take the place of Preparation.
Don’t neglect the need for actual physical practice of your speech.
When practicing
your speech, go through the entire speech before
stopping to
make corrections.
Many speeches fall apart towards the
end because the speaker
failed to practice the speech in its entirety. Try to avoid
constantly stopping and starting from the beginning, because
this might mean that you never get to practice the conclusion.
Compliments of Frank P. Connelly, DTM
Candidate for International Director
Region 8, 2001 – 2003