A Reminder from the Master
Yesterday, while listening to a recording by one of the true masters of public speaking, Patricia Fripp, she said something in her talk that absolutely blew me into a stunned state, “Your job as a speaker is to be remembered and repeated.”, and then a few moments later, “What will people say about your speech 10 months from now?”
I remember hearing her say the same thing in teleconferences on the Champions’ Edge and at the Get Coached to Speak Champ Camp I attended a few months ago. However, the point did not stick at that time. I was too worried about the mechanics of my speech at the time to really sit down and focus on what the message was in my speech.
Upon contemplating this for awhile, I kept being drawn back into things people have been saying to me the past two weeks. Things like, “what is the point?”, “OK, that is the why but what is the how?”, or “what value does it add.”
How many times in your speech has someone said something like that to you?
We are too Focused on the Mechanics
It hurts, because we do get wrapped up in the mechanics more then the content. That is one of the flaws of Toastmasters. That is one of the reasons why after so many presentations, we only remember the ones that are designed to be “remembered and repeated.”
What lessons can you learn from this?
1. Make sure you have a clear and concise message before you sit down to prepare your speech.
2. Write down the key phrase that you want people to walk away saying after your presentation.
3. Make sure that the key phrase is short, connects to the purpose of the speech, and is something that can be repeated at key moments in the speech without sounding like you are trying to get people to memorize the phrase. Yes, that is tough, but audiences know when you are trying to trick them.
4. Most importantly, know your topic. You are far more likely to have key phrases in speeches that you have internalized then something you have put together at the last minute with little to no background on the subject of the speech.
Remember what Patricia Fripp said, “Speak to be remembered and repeated.”
How will you be remembered and repeated in your next speech?
About the Author: My Toastmasters Blog is written and edited by Chris Elliott, the founder of the young professional coaching site Young Profit Pros. Chris enjoys using his knowledge and experiences during his speaking engagements, workshops, consulting projects, and one-on-one coaching sessions. The result—connecting people and empowering change. If you would like information on how you can bring Chris to speak to your next meeting, please download Chris' one sheet or contact him by clicking here.
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