You can’t assume anything prior to speaking. You need to do your
homework, even if you are asked to give a “quick” status update on
a project to your manager and a group of his or her peers. You have
the right and obligation to ask how long you are expected to speak
for, who will be there, who else may be speaking, and if there will be
a question-and-answer session. Even though questions are typically
asked at this kind of event, it’s still worth checking. Wouldn’t it be better
to know ahead of time if the questions will be asked during the
presentation or after the presentation?

You must also confirm the time and place. I know it sounds obvious,
but I was embarrassed once when I showed up for a speaking engagement
at a local Kiwanis Club and saw that there was another speaker. I
had failed to re-confirm the time with the sponsor. The sponsor didn’t
reach out to me, but I hold myself accountable for assuming I was confirmed
after the first email I received. Even if you think you know the
answers, ask questions anyway to ensure that everyone is on the same
page. Clarifying and confirming are key tools in your speaking arsenal.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

Toastmasters’ club meetings emphasize the importance of speech
evaluations and designate certain individuals to listen for proper
grammar and filler words. Personally and professionally, I knew
I needed to be a better listener, because I had a reputation for periodically
speaking over people as they spoke. The habit was not to be
disrespectful, but was often an attempt to rush out my own words
while they were fresh in my head. However, I had never correlated the
importance of public speaking with listening. With a larger group of
people, especially during question-and-answer sessions, Toastmasters
training gave me more restraint in the business environment. I began
to actively listen to the questions and then thoughtfully try to answer
them.

In addition to Q&A sessions, I started listening not only with my
ears, but with my eyes. My observation skills were becoming honed
because I needed to adjust to audience reactions during my presentations,
whether it was by seeing sighs, yawns, closed eyes, or even no
reaction at all. Altering presentation and delivery to adapt to audience
needs, even in mid-stream, helps not only with the present speech,
but with future versions of that same speech. Additionally, becoming
a better listener has made me a better communicator all around. This
more holistic communication approach, including speaking and listening,
has increased my confidence and made me more adept in the
business setting.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

You have outlined and then written out the speech, and it is ready
to practice. I convinced myself that, as I was terrible at remembering
names and other things, I would also have trouble remembering
speeches without notes. It took plenty of practice and new tips
along the way, but now I feel confident in my ability to remember my
speeches. Below are some key tips:

• Go back and look at the outline to determine if the beginning, body,
and conclusion are logically arranged. I have found that some simple
re-arrangement of sentences can make all the difference in my ability
to memorize.
• Smooth out the speech to give it a more even flow if you find yourself
stumbling during transition points. The flow and rhythm are important.
• Don’t mumble the speech under your breath. You must be loud and
proud. Everything is a live rehearsal and will help your retention and
allow you to figure out better words to use. You will be surprised how
different your speech sounds from what you intended when you originally
wrote it.
• Learn in small increments. I begin by setting a goal of memorizing
a paragraph a day. Before work, I invest time going over the paragraph
to remember it. On my commute home from work, I try to recall the
most recent portion of the speech I worked on. By the end of the day,
I have the baseline of the paragraph down. The next day, I reinforce
the first paragraph and begin the second. I continue this progressive
approach until I remember the entire passage. You should note that
if you choose not to memorize the entire speech, you should at least
invest the time to know your material inside and out. Many experienced
people in the field of public speaking argue the wisdom of memorizing
entire speeches. Some argue that the presentation becomes too
acted or prescribed. I will leave it up to each individual as to how they
want to prepare their work. What is typically agreed on is the importance
of memorizing a strong opening and conclusion, with a laser
focus pointed on the key message and topics that must be stated within
the presentation to define the success of the speech.
• Visualize the speech in your head. With the small increments noted
above, you can begin to visualize the speech order based on key words
and sentence structures. Visualizing is slightly different from memorizing
because, to some extent, you are living the speech by thinking
about words, places you want to be on stage, and flow.
• Use gestures to accompany your words and use your body to guide
your mind. I have almost forgotten words many times but built strong
gesture routines and habits in which my arms and hands prompted me
with word memories.
• Incorporate alliteration. This shouldn’t be overdone, but it’s always a
great tool to throw in occasionally (e.g., helpless, homeless, and hurting…).
• Practice in different surroundings so you don’t get too comfortable
in one forum. For example, as noted above, I often practice while driving
home from work. Afterward, I am always shocked the first time I
stand up and practice it. I always seem thrown off simply by standing
the first time.
• Even if the speech isn’t perfect, practice with other people or a video
camera. This added pressure builds your concentration level.
• Use videotape to help underline some trouble spots for remembering.
This comes back to being able to visualize yourself on the stage.
• Then practice, practice, practice. You can never practice too much.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

Do you know how many words you speak per minute or how long
it takes you to get through a speech of single-lined text on a piece of
paper? What is your typical pace? And, why are these questions relevant?
Understanding how quickly you speak will assist you as you are
writing out your presentation. It will help you as you move from your
outline to the actual text to see if you have enough or too much material.
Your speaking speed will vary once you start practicing out loud
because you will build in strategic pauses, movement on the podium,
and gestures that will impact your timing and speed.

I didn’t realize early in my speaking career that I was inadvertently
counting my words. I knew that for a five to seven-minute speech
(based on the size-ten font I typically use), I could have a full page plus
one paragraph on the second page and stay within seven minutes. This
was early in my public-speaking experience because I depended more
on my notes. After learning to memorize similar-length speeches, I
found I couldn’t have that extra paragraph because I was getting better
at responding to audience reactions and at using pauses for effect;
the timing of my speeches changed based on my experience level. I
have settled in around 800 to 850 words for a seven-minute speech
after I also account for anticipated audience reactions (about 115 to
125 words per minute). There is an obvious variation based on the topic
and delivery, but I know instantly when writing speeches if I have too
much or too little based on the allotted time. I now know that I need to
eliminate thirty words to cut down my time by about fifteen seconds.
Once you settle into a good routine, you will become very familiar
with your speech-writing timing needs.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com