In the Beginning...

In the beginning was the spoken word. And the spoken word was and is the means of communicating ideas to our fellow man. The more effectively we speak, the greater the understanding of our audience. Before beginning any endeavor, we need to be in a good mental state of mind. Take time to relax. Pamper yourself a bit with soft music, a quiet dinner, or a round of golf…whatever works for you.

Ready? Then let’s begin. So you’ve been asked to speak, but what topic do you choose? Either you feel there is just so much to choose from, or you’re having trouble coming up with an idea. For most, it’s the latter. Ask yourself: "What are the interests of my audience?" Jot down a few ideas that come to mind. Next, ask yourself: "What are my interests?" Jot down a few of these ideas. Now you have a list to choose from. Once you make that choice, the battle has begun!

Capturing the Audience!

Your speech actually begins with your introduction. If possible, try to write your own for each speaking occasion to set the stage for your speech. Write it with enthusiasm! You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Make the audience eager to hear what you have to say. You can let the audience know what your topic is and why it is relevant. For example, if your topic is "How to Make Millions," a typical introduction could be:

“The Optimist Club is delighted to have a speaker who is a self-made man. He has found a way to create wealth from a very small investment in time and money. Tonight, he will show us how we can accumulate a small fortune as he has done. Please welcome to the stage, Mr. John Q. Public!”

You may find that writing your introduction is easier once you’ve written your speech. However, writing a tentative introduction in the beginning may be helpful. However you decide to do it, be sure it meets the criteria of grabbing your audience.