Have you every been thoroughly entertained by someone giving a humorous speech? Maybe you enjoy watching stand-up comedians on stage.
Laughter is a definite stress reliever – one of the best medicines, as the saying goes!
People love to laugh. Whether it’s improv, observational, word play, dark humour or something else, there are may ways to see levity in the world we live in.
And, there are many ways to deliver a funny presentation.
In Toastmasters, learning how to give a humorous speech is going to be one of the most gratifying adventures you’ll have as a member.
So, take heart, even if you’re not a natural, you can be that person on stage getting the laughs!
Let’s get started by looking at the prep work.
There’s no feeling like it, and you’ll be hooked!
Continue readingIf you’ve learned anything about speech writing, you’ll know that there’s a recommended formula to use in designing the best presentation.
Essentially, your talk should have a short opening where you engage your audience, a middle part where you coherently cover the details of your speech topic and an ending that neatly sums everything up.
Remember, people have come to hear you talk when there are definitely other ways that they could be spending their time.
They’re looking to be entertained, or moved in some way. They want to leave the room better informed, educated and possibly curious to study more about your subject.
Therefore, you owe it to your listeners to put together the best presentation that you can – that includes a dynamite finish that they’ll reflect on afterwards.
Let’s take a closer look at how to approach the task. We’ll begin by discussing what not to do.
Continue readingWhen you’re giving a speech, it goes without saying that you want your audience to be attentive and engaged.
You’ve probably spent a lot of time crafting what you have to say. And, you want participants to listen and really understand your message.
As you can appreciate, your opening few lines can make or break your presentation. You’ll either have people sitting quietly and paying attention or already beginning to zone out.
So, what’s the key to starting a speech well? The good new is that there are quite a number of great ways to begin.
Your aim is to create interest and set the tone for the rest of your presentation.
Continue readingPublic speaking has long been one of the most challenging skills to perfect, as it can be difficult for many. Some speakers can more easily gain their audience’s interest, while others don’t provide their audience with much value.
While any speech can captivate an audience and provide value and insight, you can provide even more value to your audience by showing respect and being genuine. Therefore, it is crucial to take ethics in public speaking very seriously when engaging with your audience. If you may still have some doubts about the importance of ethical speaking, I’ve compiled a list based on my experience and research on the ethical aspects of public speaking.
Continue readingImagine you are at your best friend’s wedding and you are sitting at the table just enjoying the food and company.
You’re relaxed, and perhaps a little buzzed.
Then the emcee of the event (being weak at impromptu speaking) calls you.
“Why don’t you share a few words about your best friend, John?”
You look around. There are 30 tables and each table has 10 guests. 300 people. Oh oh.
Your heart starts pounding fast, you begin sweating and you start thinking of an excuse. But everyone starts clapping and cheering you on.
The emcee walks to you and passes you the microphone. The spotlight is on you.
What would you do?
Do you run away? Or do you take the mic and possibly embarrass yourself?
Wouldn’t you wish you had learnt to do impromptu speaking?
Continue reading