by Gilda Bonanno LLC
Whether you’ve been asked to give a wedding toast, a retirement party roast, a memorial eulogy or some other kind of special occasion speech or presentation, you want to do everything possible before you speak to ensure that you will be successful when you speak. Here are 5 questions you should ask before you speak:
1. What is the goal of the event?
Think about the overall goal of the event – is
it a happy celebration or a sad remembrance? Do you want the audience to laugh,
cry, ponder, be entertained….?
2. Who is in the audience?
What is the background of the people in the
audience? How many people are expected? Are they work colleagues of the guest
of honor, friends or family? What are their ages? For example, the insider
jokes and industry jargon that may be appropriate for work colleagues may not
make sense to family members in the audience.
3. What is your message?
What is the one point that you want people to
remember from your speech? Every story and statistic you share should relate to
that one core message, which should be in tune with the overall tone of the
event.
4. How much time do you have to speak?
What is the time limit for your presentation? What
comes before and after you? Will someone introduce you? Whatever your time limit, prepare to speak
for less time and have a backup plan in case a previous presenter goes over the time
limit. One of my clients prepared a
funny limerick to present at a colleague’s retirement roast, but the previous
speaker rambled on well beyond his time limit, so my client had to rush through
his limerick.
5. What is the environment like?
What is the room size and layout? Will you
present sitting or standing or from behind a podium? Is there a microphone for
you to use? What is the lighting like? (I’ve seen speakers struggle to read
their notes because the room is dimly lit).
If you can’t practice in the room before the event begins, at least try
to find a picture of it, so you can be more comfortable in the space when you
present.
Asking these questions will help ensure that your speech or presentation is successful and that you convey a message that is appropriate to that audience and aligned with the overall purpose of the event.
© Gilda Bonanno LLC - Gilda Bonanno serves as a trusted advisor to executives and entrepreneurs to transform their communication, presentation and leadership skills. She has worked with companies on 4 continents, from Chicago to Shanghai and Rio to Rome. The instructional videos on her YouTube channel have received over 2 million views and her e-newsletter has reached subscribers in over 45 countries since 2008. For other articles or to receive Gilda's e-newsletter, visit www.gildabonanno.com