Speech Topics

What to Avoid In A Speech

Giving a good speech can be difficult but writing a good speech is probably the biggest hurdle most people have difficulty overcoming.

Not only in your writing should you show you know what you’re talking about, but bad habits and lack of training and knowing your topic well will show.

Those things are what bring on the “butterflies”: lack of experience speaking before a group, lack of coherency and good information in your speech to make it memorable, and just plain lack of knowledge in knowing what NOT to say.

Here are some things to be sure to keep OUT while you are giving your speech:

• “MAKE SOME NOISE!” (DO NOT say THIS!)
  • Unless you are at the MTV Music Awards, keep your tone according to your audience.
  • The key point is this: know your audience.
  • Your audience should dictate your style and approach, the words you use, and so on. If you can not modify your pitch to the audience you’ll turn people off quicker than you can say…
• “Did That Make Sense?”
  • Actually, it did not. And on top of that, because you had to ask me I am so bored at this point that I have started playing a game on my Mobile.
  • The key here: Practice. Do it in front of the mirror. Do it in the shower. Do it in front of others. Do it in public.
  • If you give a speech in front of friends and family who aren’t in your field of expertise and they get it, you have got yourself a winner.
• “Hmm, Um, and Uh…”
  • The awful “hm” and “uh” is so ordinary in our speech we often forget about it.
  • Too many “ums” shows a lack of training and experience.
• “What Else Can I Show You?”
  • I don’t know; you tell me.
  • Presentations are stories – they need a beginning, middle and end. It doesn’t matter the setting, format or style of presentation.
  • Whenever you are standing in front of people and giving a speech, you’re spinning a story. That means it requires all the elements of a nice one.
• “I Guess That’s It.”
  • Well is that the end or not?
  • You would know better than me.
  • Professional writers advice ending strongly, and it’s important when giving a presentation.
  • Even saying, “That’s the end” is a bit lame – your final point (and the entire presentation) should make it obvious enough, and you should be able to transition instantly into the next step – be it questions, slinking off the stage, hours of clapping…

Here are the Main Four P’s of Presentations and Giving a Speech:

1. Prepare. You might not need a detailed script, but prepare something. Make sure your story is compelling, entertaining and worth listening to.
2. Practice. You need to exercise. Even professional presenters exercise. Make sure you at least read it out loud a few times to develop a good rhythm.
3. Participate. You should always try to engage your audience. The sooner they feel like they’re part of what you’re doing, the better.
4. Pronounce. You have to speak understandably. There should be no mumbling in a presentation.