Hello fellow entrepreneurs!
Something that all entrepreneurs have to do at some stage or another is make a great entrepreneurial speech. This speech could be to a board of directors, fellow partners, employees, venture capitalists, shareholders and investors, conferences or events, fellow business people, and the list goes on. In simple, you going to need to make a speech sooner or later, and you might as well be prepared for it and make it one to remember. Here are a few pointers.
Prepare – make sure you have prepared for the speech. No one likes to listen to a speech that is disorganised, off the topic and just simply unprepared. Set time aside a few weeks before the day of your speech to plan it and prepare the speech.
Practice – once you have written your speech, practice it. Practice, practice and … practice! While you can’t always know other variable on the day, you can at least practice the part that you are going to deliver. Practicing in front of the mirror is one of the oldest tricks in the book, and still works, so give it a go.
Research – do some background reading on your topic as well as relevant and recent news articles on the topic, to make sure you can answer any question thrown at you. You need to be knowledgeable in your area. It also helps to do some research and reading about your audience or the conference or event that you are speaking at.
Be enthusiastic – when presenting, be lively and enthusiastic. Show your audience your passion for the subject. This will give them a better impression, and they are more inclined to listen and remember you.
Make a dramatic opening – start with a bang. Grab the audience’s attention and let them know that you are in the building! This will also intrigue the audience and make them want to know more about what you are talking about.
Humour – try and add in a bit of humour. It doesn’t have to be a joke, but a light hearted humorous line creates a connection with the audiences and helps them relax and warm to you.
Make use of pauses – pick your pauses carefully and strategically. A one or two second pause can have a great effect, but you don’t want to overuse them. Think about where they will have greater impact in your speech.
Eye connection – make eye connection with your audience. Don’t talk at them, talk with them. Your preparation should mean that you don’t have to follow every single word with your eyes. A tip for doing this is to just write a few ‘reminder’ words on palm cards rather than sentences. That way, you can have a quick look down, see a word that reminds you of where you are going next, and continue that great connection with you audience.
Timing – don’t speak for too long. Have a watch and a clock and keep to your allocated time. No one likes a speech that goes on for too long.
K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) – don’t try to impress anyone with using extremely long words that no one will understand and will just make them think that you spent too much time reading the thesaurus. Know your audience, and use language that is appropriate to them and that they will understand.
Watch your body language – be conscious of your body language throughout the speech. Are you sitting or are you standing? Are you learning forward no the edge of your seat or reclining back into your seat? Are you pacing up and down or not moving from the one spot? There is no right or wrong with body language, but it helps to be conscious of what your body language is saying, and take a bit from each technique. There are however a few don’ts, including don’t drop your head when reading the speech, don’t play or flick a pen, and don’t turn your back to the audience. Other than that, everyone is different and has a different comfort level in terms of their body language.
Smile – after all, you are human. Smiling makes the audience feel welcome, warm and relaxed. Be their friend.
You are an entrepreneur. Part of making a good entrepreneur speech is taking that bit of a risk. I hope these tips assist you and get you on your way. If you have any others to add, it would be great to hear what you think.
Have a great day, and good luck in making your speech.
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