For over fifty years I have given from 50-150 professional speeches a year. I learned by doing. Much of what I know has been OTJ (on the job training). After several young people asked me the principles I use I wrote out ten important ones.
1. Be believable
Unless the audience believes you, nothing happens. Arthur Godfrey became one of the highest paid advertisers on radio because he was "believable." There should be compatibility between content and presentation style. Dress, word selection and body language must be in agreement. The verse of scripture which helped me most to be believable was "Jesus spoke as one with authority, not like the scribes." Obviously they used other people's material! Therefore, I only spoke on subjects that I personified or was working hard to attain.
2. Be audience oriented
It is important to speak to an audience about a subject rather than about a subject to an audience.
3. Be personal
The greatest compliment is when someone says, "I felt you were speaking directly to me." Eye contact is important. Billy Graham always establishes this one on one relationship. He does it in several ways: a) "it is no accident that you are here tonight — you are here by divine appointment" b) "if you are uncertain you can become certain tonight."
4. Be prepared
Speak out of the overflow. This is feeling that I am giving the best that I can about a subject on which I know a great deal. It is like giving the cream off the top. Never try to mask unpreparedness by claiming that God gave you the subject. Zig Ziglar tells me that even when he is giving a talk that he has given hundreds of times he spends at least three hours preparing. I figure I have to do 30 minutes to 1 hour for every minute that I speak.
5. Be enjoyable
Great speakers know that you have to give an audience psychological breaks fairly often. You can do this with illustrations, humor or well-told stories. There must always be a positive attitude of hope. I like to illustrate the point but also to add new information for the audience. Seats are always more comfortable when the listeners are enjoying the speaker.
6. Be human
When you speak be real. Always be who you are and not who you would like people to think you are. Never appear messianic not inerrant. It is good technique to properly laugh at yourself. In self-deprecating humor be very honest.
7. Be empowered
People react to an authentic quality in material. I am very careful to maintain the right motive when I am speaking. I feel empowered by the pure motive of helping the audience. The greatest compliment I can get following a speech is, "God used you."
8. Communicate to change behavior
When you alter individual attitudes and moods you can give specific suggestions on behavior change. The difference between a performance and a speech, for me, is that something happens within people to affect their behavior. This is genuine motivation. This is authentic communication. It is important that you give people something to do immediately. An action-oriented "take-away" is part of the change in behavior.
9. Pray before speaking
This is a purely personal principle. However, it helps me to be honest and to be confident. I never ask an audience to pray while I speak — I want them to listen. A friend was speaking to an African-American church and not doing very well when one of the sisters called out, "Help him, Lord Jesus, help him!"
10. Leave them wanting to hear more
You want the audience to hear more both from you and about your subject. I bought a small sign in a flea market which I keep on my wall, " Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff and nudge me when I've said enough."
I wish you the joy of making a difference when you speak.
