How to Make a Speech
And Inspire Your Audience
PAPERBACK | 168 PAGES
by Barrie Barton
Will you be making a business or academic presentation? Giving a speech at a family occasion? Maybe you’re considering sharing your passion or expertise at an event such as TEDx or Pecha Kucha. Whatever the occasion, you want your speech to be engaging and memorable.
In this easy-to-use book, renowned speech coach Barrie Barton shows you how to:
discover your message
organize your content
craft a compelling opening and an inspiring closing
use slides
connect with your audience
Barrie Barton’s insightful advice will guide you in making your speech clear and powerful, and in delivering it with calm, confident control—however nervous you may feel right now!
“Barrie’s expertise in streamlining content, organizing my ideas, and aligning the slides was remarkably efficient and on point. Her coaching gave me the benefit of feeling confident in my content and relaxed in my delivery.”
“Barrie helped me turn my speech from boring to brilliant! She taught me how to shine brightly when presenting my research. I am truly grateful for all that I learned from her.”
“My conference speech was a massive hit. Over 1,300 people heard it, and probably 200 people came up to me and told me how much they enjoyed it. I couldn’t have done it without Barrie!”
About the Author
Barrie Barton
Barrie Barton is dedicated to the art and strategy of personal and professional communication and presentation. She founded the speaking coaching and facilitation company Stand and Deliver in Asheville, NC, in 2015, and has helped hundreds of businesspeople, architects and engineers, artists, and thought leaders learn to communicate their ideas with clarity and passion.
Barrie also teaches public speaking at UNC Asheville, and, through Next AVL, mentors local college students in pitch design and delivery. In 2019 she served as coaching coordinator for TEDx Asheville and is now the event’s Executive Director.
Table of Contents
Let’s Get Started
The Desire to Inspire
Overcoming the Fear
How to Use This Book
Chapter 1: Discover Your Message
The Lake of Your Ideas
The Seven Key Questions
Key Question 1: “What’s my motivation?”
Key Question 2: “Who are my listeners?”
Key Question 3: “What do I want my listeners to do, feel or believe"?”
Key Question 4: “What’s the one thing I want my listeners to remember?”
Key Question 5: “What do my listeners need to know?”
Key Question 6: “Why me?”
Key Question 7: “How much time do I have?”
Chapter 2: Compose Your Speech
Gather Your Treasures
Start Writing Your Speech
Splat it
Speak it
Map it
Chapter 3: Shape Your Speech
The Speechwriter’s Hourglass
The Basic Building Blocks of a Speech
Opening
Why me?
Core message
Why does it matter?
Key points
What’s possible?
Call to action
Closing
Chapter 4: Animate Your Speech
Quotes
Story
Data
Transitions
Audience Participation
Q & A
Slides
Chapter 5: Polish Your Speech
How to Time Your Speech
Techniques for cutting
Adding Flavor
Metaphor
Humor
Repetition
Assess Your Progress
The value of pauses
Chapter 6: Rehearse Your Speech
Create a Customized Speech Map
Memorization
Using notes
Polish Your Delivery
Establish a pre-performance routine
Practice your speech
Rehearsal techniques
Chapter 7: Deliver Your Speech
Preliminary Checklists
Prepare Your Introduction
What to Wear
Speak Like a Pro
Chapter 8: Speaking on a Virtual Platform
Let Us See You
Background
Lighting
Camera position
What to wear
Let Us Hear You
Tech
Tone
Additional Tips
Chapter 9: Honoring Someone You Love
Gather Your Treasures
Craft Your Toast
Choose the right story to tell
Shape Your Toast
Polish Your Toast
Prepare to Perform
Practice the toast
Deliver Your Toast
What to Avoid
Words of Love
Appendix: Sample Speech Shapes
The Basic Hourglass
Compare and Contrast
Chronological
Speech to Honor Someone
