Speeches don’t have to be invented from scratch. Telling a personal story is a great way to come up with something quickly: since you already know what happened, you’ll know what to say. For example:
- At a wedding, you could tell a funny story about growing up with the bride or groom.
- At a funeral, you could tell a story about how kind or generous the deceased was, or about how they influenced you.
Step #1. Kick things off with a quote
This is another way to rely on something that’s already out there, rather than having to come up with something on the spot. Think of an inspiring quotation, some lyrics to a song, or a famous saying that applies to the situation when you’re speaking. Start off with that, and then discuss it a bit.
- For example, imagine you’re giving a toast at Frank’s 70th birthday. You could say something like: “They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Frank here’s proving them wrong. Who else would have the courage to start running marathons in retirement?”
Step #2. Keep it short and sweet
Rambling on too long is the number one thing that can go wrong when giving a personal speech. It’s much better to avoid saying too much. Keep your speech brief, focusing on two to five main points or examples.
- For example, if you’re toasting the groom at a wedding, stick to just two good stories about your friendship.
- If you see people in the audience do things like turn away, talk to each other, check their phones or watches, or fidget in their seats, you might be rambling on and losing their attention.
- If this happens just quickly cut to your main point and say “thank you” as a way to close.
Step #3. Speak clearly and calmly
Even practiced speakers can get nervous when asked to give a talk on the spot. Control your nerves by taking a deep breath before you begin, and taking brief pauses every so often while you are talking. Focus on pronouncing your words clearly, and not speaking too quickly.
Step #4. Shore up your confidence.
Many people feel nervous about giving a speech, especially with little notice. But if you show the confidence to give one, they’ll applaud you. Plus, they’ll all be so happy not to be the ones giving the speech that they’ll probably be super supportive!
- Simple ways to find your confidence before giving a speech include taking some deep, slow breaths, or closing your eyes and visualising a happy place before you begin.
- You can also look out in the audience and find a few friends or people who seem supportive, and focus on them.
- If you’re nervous, you could also try the old standby of imagining everyone in the audience naked!
- Above all, just remind yourself that most people will naturally admire the courage of someone who shows the confidence to get up and speak in front of a crowd.
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