When Oprah Winfrey spoke at the Golden Globes Awards, her speech lit up social media in practically no time. It was powerful, memorable, and in one way or another precisely what the world wanted to hear. It roused multiple standing O’s — and even a semi-serious Twitter campaign to elect her president.
Many people experience physical body reactions such as shallow breathing, increased heart rate, and trembling hands. The adrenaline rush that makes you sweat also makes you increasingly alarmed and ready to give your best performance. This can center your spirit and focus your thoughts.
Keep three things in your mind before you begin to craft your message. That is: The audience- WHO is attending the speech? The purpose- WHAT is the primary objective of the speech? The flow- HOW will the speech be delivered?
Instead of simply passing on information, use stories since that’s how we process the information. When using storytelling approaches it’s all right to be dramatic or euphoric or vulnerable, because it establishes a stronger bond between you and your audience as you go through the journey together.
If you’re nervous, the audience can easily see from your body language. Avoid crossing your arms, but feel free to use big open gestures. You can also make your speech more captivating by making eye contact with different individuals, moving around the stage, and coming closer to the audience.
Think about whatever key phrases which make you happy. For instance, “I am so excited”, “It’ll be so great”, “I can’t wait to share this idea!”, “I am going to rock it”. Don’t stand backstage thinking about “What if I mess up?”
Finish up your speech with a summary and a strong statement that your audience is sure to remember. You may forget a word; somebody may drop something backstage; there might be a technical difficulty.