What makes a memorable speech?
Is it the opener?
Is it the closer?
Is it the part in the middle?
I was plagued with these questions when I first started public speaking.
Was always wondering how I could design a speech for the audience members to like me.
And every time I designed a speech with that mindset, it ended up falling flat.
It took me years & years of Toastmasters experience to finally understand what it was that made a memorable speech.
It wasn't about getting the audience to like me.
It was about making the audience feel a certain type of emotion.
That's the secret: Generate 1-2 emotions in the audience members.
At first, this seemed like a very illogical concept.
'So you are telling me that an shitty content speech that was funny was more memorable than a well thought out speech that was delivered in a monotoned voice?'
Yes.
To put this theory to the test, I once organized 15 people from my community to listen to 2 speeches.
Speaker 1 would give a 3 minute speech based on designing a computer in a flat voice.
Speaker 2 would give a 3 minute speech where they say their name in as many tonalities as they could.
After both had given their speeches, we let the audience members vote on who they liked more.
We didn't define 'liked', just let the audience use their own judgment.
Results??
A staggering 15-0 chose the second speaker.
Why?
Because the first speaker only engaged logic.
The second speaker mainly generated emotions.
And whether you think it's fair or not, humans are emotional creatures.
The fact that Speaker 2 kept repeating their name was funny to the audience.
The fact that Speaker 2 kept repeating their name built a sense of curiosity in the audience.
'What is his end game?' they wondered.
Now the point of this email isn't to tell you to make a speech with just your name.
Or even to build a speech of just emotion alone...
But the ultimate point is to make you think.
After your speech is designed, record yourself giving it, and watch it back.
Are you making yourself laugh, feel curiosity, sad, outraged, anything.....?
If not, then you are being too logical.
Your speech will fall flat.
Keep the content, sure.
But deliver it with more enthusiasm.
Your tonality can breathe life into a dead speech.
Record yourself again & try to entertain yourself.
Keep doing it until you are watching a speech that not only informs, but is fun to watch.
A speech that generates emotions is deadly.
And the more you progress in your public speaking career, the more you will realize this is the true secret sauce.
Need help breathing some life into a flat speech?
Fear not, I got you.
During my years in Toastmasters, I've seen many newbie speakers struggling to stop being so damn left brained!
Which is why I work directly with you to turn a facts riddled speech into one that will be memorable.
But more importantly than the speech yourself, you develop mindset strategies that can be virtually applied in many other facets of your life.
Remember, communication skills are scarce in today's world, if you have it on your side, then you have a modern day superpower.
Always stay hacking the hustle