7 Elements that make a Great Speech

7 Elements that make a Great Speech?

So many times after I’ve attended speaking events, friends ask,” Was the speech any good?" ? This got me wondering, what makes a great speech anyway? In many ways, it depends on what matters to you most: emotions? ideas? delivery? So I took it upon myself to ask a few of my agent friends to share their thoughts.? I’ve also reflected on what I’ve observed over a lifetime in the speaker industry. Here’s what we came up with:

7 Elements that make a great speech, from the pros

1. Emotion: This one is tricky, because it isn't always what a speaker says, or even how they say it that makes a great speech. It is an alchemical mix that gets your heart pumping or your mind racing, and sometimes your tears flowing.? A great speech weaves?together details of lives lived-- the impact of personal experiences--to open a pathway for an audience to feel, and hopefully empathize with the speaker, despite their seeming differences,? connecting with the speaker's story as if it was their own story, creating a bridge where one did not exist before. These are the speeches that stick with you.?
2. Authenticity: When you hear someone speak in a genuine manner, leaving jargon at the door, and choosing instead to express themselves as uniquely and individually as a fingerprint--that is authenticity. It is exciting to hear a speaker reduce?ideas and experiences to their essences. In this way, the speaker shows their audience their own humanity and rawness, sharing?in a way that creates close connections.??
3. Storytelling: Once upon a time... is an invitation to sit together around an imaginary fire and to be transported to a different place.?Rich with details, a great speech paints an experience that we might never have imagined, includes people we may not know, and takes us on a journey to reveal a new way of looking. This is a place where speakers can utilize visual or theatrical arts to broaden the dimension of what they share with the audience.??
4. Relatability: When a speaker shares their ideas or experiences in such a way that transcends the lines that can appear to divide us, and instead invites us to share together as human beings, this is relatability.?It is a vital element of a great speech.?
5. Education: This is an opportunity to open up the minds of listeners to new ideas and new perspectives on things they thought they already understood. A great speech should spark curiosity, breaking down boundaries on subjects that appear to be beyond our reach.?Doing this is critical for us to understand, so we can tackle problems that the future holds. A great educational speech leaves the audience wanting to know more,? encouraging listeners to embark on their own intellectual journeys.??
6. Engagement: A great speech will weave an imaginary web between the speaker and the audience. It paints a picture of a complex idea in a way that inspires the audience to lean in more and inhabit the space that the speaker creates through the use of their physical presence, their energy, and their voice. It draws you in to become a part of the conversation and to invite you to care.
7. Call to Action: Sometimes you are motivated, sometimes you are inspired, and sometimes you walk out of the auditorium ready to engage in activities to change the world. By opening people's eyes, hearts, or minds,? a speaker can alter the trajectory of people's lives. It can happen in different ways --sharing their lived experiences, introducing ideas that alter beliefs, or even helping us to see how this particular moment fits within the span of history. This is where we can see what is at stake, to see how far we have come, and how much further we need to go.?

Any of these can have an impact upon us that can call us to step out of life as we know it and alter what comes next.?

A truly great speech will have a unique blend of all of these elements.It is a reflection of what the speaker feels is critical for the audience to hear. It brings me joy to help people bring their messages out into the world. If you are a speaker looking to develop or refresh your message, my Public Speaker Coaching services could be of value to you.?

If you are with an agency (Speaker, Literary or Public Relations), then I invite you to consider my Talent Development Consulting services. Let's find a time to talk and explore what you need to do next to elevate your voice.?

Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.?

Maggie Smith