Public Speaking Topics - How to Choose a Great Topic For Your Speech

What is the importance of public speaking topics?

Let's start at the beginning. Do you have to give a speech? While it is a nerve-wracking prospect for most people, the good news is that if you come up with a great topic for your speech, which you can prepare well for, then the actual speech does not need to be something to dread.

Great public speaking topics makes it easier for you to relax and get into public speaking

Public Speaking Topics - How to Choose a Great Topic For Your Speech

It really is important to have a speech topic that you can get passionate about - or if not passionate then at least interested. This way you'll have more fun researching the speech and you will be able to relax into your interesting, informative speech topic and focus on the content of your speech rather than focusing on how nervous you are.

Persuasive speech topics

Do you need to give a persuasive speech - perhaps a sales speech, or narrative speech topics to a panel where you need to persuade the listeners over to your point of view? In these situations, the best possible speech topic to use is a story. Decide what your main points are, what you need to get across to your audience, and then for each point pick one or two stories that illustrate it.

People are not persuaded so much by facts as by emotion, and a great public speaking tip is to incorporate stories in order to make your speech much more persuasive.

Public speaking topics for groups

Are you just starting out in public speaking? Do you need to come up with interesting speech topics that you can present to a group but are not sure what topic to cover?

Here are some questions to ask that will help you choose the right speech topic for your audience - and for you, the speaker.

What is my audience interested in? What is the purpose of their group and what topics, that I could use in my speech, could relate to their purpose? What are the goals of my audience? Do they want to have a fun social evening, to achieve a business goal, to learn about something, to laugh? What are my goals for this speech? How can I relate my own goals to those of my audience?
Researching your speech topic - the key to success

When you have a great idea for a speech topic, researching it will be fun and easy. Here is the process I use for researching my own speech topics when preparing for a public speaking topic. You can follow my process or tailor it to one that will get YOU motivated and excited!

First I brainstorm my topic. I sit down with paper and some colored pens and let my imagination run riot. I jot down or sketch any and all ideas that come into my head that relate to my speech topic. Next, I go to my local library and immerse myself in the appropriate section that relates to my speech topic. I pull out books at random and browse them, jotting any ideas or useful facts that I come across down in my notebook. Finally, I set aside some quiet time to use the computer and write up my notes into speech form. Any extra research that I need to do at this stage, I use the Internet, being careful to take facts and figures only from reputable web sites.

Using these public speaking tips and your own imagination and thoughts, you are sure to come up with great public speaking topics!

Public Speaking Topics - How to Choose a Great Topic For Your Speech
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Public Speaking - Here's an Example of a Speech Outlined With the Talk Template

Organizing your presentation logically and coherently not only helps the audience understand your ideas and follow along easier, but it also helps you stay on track and remember your points. Here is a sample speech outline to help you understand how all the elements of a template work together -- note how some of the outline just uses key words or phrases. This is ideally how a speech should be drafted, so the speaker can speak naturally and conversationally from the key points and not have to read the speech!

How to be a Great Listener

INTRODUCTION

Public Speaking - Here's an Example of a Speech Outlined With the Talk Template

I. Hook (using a quote):

The ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus said, "Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak." If all of use practiced this formula, it's amazing how much better our work and personal lives would be.

II. Reason to Listen:

Good listeners not only hear what's being said -- which means they receive information and can appropriately react to it -- but they are also masters of a powerful skill because they are able to fulfill two very basic human needs-to be heard and to be understood. When you let other people feel like they've been heard and understood, it opens doors, bridges differences, reduces conflict, and creates loyalty and trust. Being a good listener improves your work performance, productivity, and especially your ability to get along with other people. There is no doubt it will help you in both your professional and personal life.

BODY

I. Road Map:

Today I want to introduce you to the concept of "Active Listening" and how three simple steps, which I've captured with the acronym "ear" -- E.A.R. -- can help you improve your listening skills.

II. Definition...

A. What good listening is not...

- Marginal
- Evaluative

B. What active listening is... definition...

III. E: Engage the Speaker

A. Define: show the speaker that you're paying attention.
B. Examples of how to do it: looking him in the eye, nodding occasionally, showing appropriate facial expressions like a smile for good news or concern for distressing news, giving vocal signals such as: "mm-hmm," "yes," "really?," "I see," etc. An important tip: keep in mind that total silence does not imply listening.

IV. A: Actually hear what's being said

A. Define: pay attention and process the information.
B. How to do it:

- Concentrate on what the speaker is saying.
- Think about what the speaker means.
- Try to look at it from the speaker's perspective.
- Identify the speaker's key points.
- Recognize what emotion might be behind the words.
- Observe nonverbal cues.
- Take notes to help you capture the essence.
- Repeat key ideas to yourself to stay on track.

V. R: Respond appropriately

A. Define: Instead of saying, "Yes, but...," you let the other party know you've heard and understood him.
B. This step effectively wields the power of listening. Three forms:

1. Paraphrase- repeat the gist of the message

* So what you're saying is...

* If I understand you correctly...

2. Probe - ask questions for more information and to gain understanding

* Why do you say that?

* How do you think that will work?

3. Reflect- let speaker know you understand how he or she feels

* You must be so proud.

* How frustrating that must have been for you.

CONCLUSION

I. Summary:

You can see the importance and the value of being a good listener because there's not much else that makes any of us feel more important or more validated or more cared about than being listened to. It is easy if you work actively on the three steps I've shared with you-Engage, Actually hear, and Respond.

II. Open the floor for questions...

Now before I close, are there any questions

III. Closing:

In closing, I'd just like to invoke the words of Peter Drucker, one of the country's most respected authorities on management. He once said: "Too many executives think they are wonderful with people because they have the ability to speak well. What they fail to realize is that being wonderful with people means being able to listen well."
If you start practicing these steps today, you'll become a better listener and people will think you're wonderful!

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Barbara Busey, president of the training firm Presentation Dynamics, has been a professional speaker, trainer and author since 1990. She does training and speaking on the "dynamics" of how people "present" themselves, is the author of the book, "Stand Out When You Stand Up," and is the creator of The Compelling Speaker, a unique presentation skills training program that combines advance audio CD instruction with a hands-on, ultra participative workshop. She now offers the Compelling Speaker Certification, a turnkey system -- complete with training content & technique, business strategies, and marketing guidelines -- that positions communicators to make a living training other business professionals to become more compelling speakers. Go to Compelling Speaker Certification to see her video, listen to her audio, and learn when the next Certification training is.

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Public Speaking - Ways to Deliver Your Speech

There are 4 possible ways to deliver your speech in public speaking. Each way has its' pros and cons. The method that s picked will depend on your circumstances. However, there is one way that is the most effective in the majority of cases.

The 4 ways to deliver your speech are:

1. Read it to the audience

Public Speaking - Ways to Deliver Your Speech

In this way the speech is written out and read aloud word for word to the audience. When giving your first speeches this method is attractive because the speaker does not rely on their memory due to the security of the speech. This does ensure that nothing is forgotten and the speech is accurate. The disadvantage is that you lose your personal appeal because your head is bowed reading. And it is difficult to talk expressively and maintain a conversational aspect to your delivery. However it is useful in political and highly controversial speeches to read aloud to prevent misquotes or being sued.

2. Memorize and deliver to your audience

The advantage of this method is that you can employ phrases that you wouldn't normally use and you are not tied down to reading your speech. You can look at your audience and move around. The difficulty with this approach is if you forget your "lines" and then struggle to determine where you are up to. Also the natural conversational quality of your delivery is difficult to maintain and it is often stiff and stilted.

3. Impromptu Speech

In an impromptu speech the speaker has not prepared a speech and is delivering his thoughts and word on the spur of the moment. This method is very flexible but rarely achieves the quality of a well prepared speech. It is best avoided if you can. But if you think you may be called on to say a few words it is handy to have a few "lines" prepared to avoid any embarrassments. Most experienced speakers have developed some reliable responses to use when they are called upon to make impromptu remarks.

4. Prepare a speaking outline and memorize the ideas

This approach is known as the extemporaneous method. The speech can be delivered with or without notes. When thoroughly prepared (which can include writing your speech in full initially) and practiced there is little need for notes. This is the easiest way for the speaker to achieve the ability to speak in a natural conversational manner. It also gives the ability to adapt the speech for any unexpected events. It does take more time and preparation than the other ways outlined here.

When starting out, it is tempting to read your speech or memorize and recite it word for word. Be careful with these methods because it is difficult to connect with the audience.

When called on for impromptu remarks ensure you have a few memorized responses (an emergency kit). The preferred method is to prepare thoroughly for your speech and memorize the ideas. Your speech has the potential to be more natural and to be more effective in achieving your purpose.

Public Speaking - Ways to Deliver Your Speech
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Be more effective in your public speaking and conversation with "The Art of Great Conversation." To claim your free preview visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com

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