Public Speaking

Tips For Giving A Keynote Speech

keyote speechAs someone who has made many a presentation over the course of my career, I have learned that there is more to giving a speech than just making sure your note cards are in order. When you give a keynote speech, there are several things you will want to keep in mind in order to really captivate your audience.

For example, a great presenter knows how to give a keynote speech that delivers. It involves having a solid understanding of your content and your audience. But no matter how well you know your subject matter, knowing how to give a presentation that is effective and memorable also requires the ability to express yourself in order to keep your audience engaged.

Some researchers suggest that successful communication is based on how you present your message (your body language and tone of voice) more than what you say (the speech’s content). While some disagree and believe that content is more important, speakers need to keep in mind that many in today’s audience are bombarded with high stimuli, are held captive by electronic devices and are used to multitasking. Therefore, you may need to add some flair to your speech delivery to keep people’s interest. When thinking about how to give a keynote speech, consider focusing on four key areas: appearance, eye contact, gestures and voice.

Appearance

What you choose to wear for a presentation may depend on the type of event. For some conferences, attendees may be dressed primarily in business casual whereas at other events it will be more formal business attire. While you don’t necessarily need to be decked out for every presentation, your appearance should set you apart. For example, consider wearing clothes that are one notch above what audience members will be wearing. If the audience is wearing jeans, wear nice khaki pants instead. Also, it is a good idea to avoid distracting patterns or loud jewelry. Another important consideration is your personal brand. If your brand representation is more sophisticated or elegant, for instance, you will certainly want to dress the part.

Eye Contact

You can create a bond with the audience through periodically looking into select individual listeners’ eyes for a few seconds during the presentation. While it would be a challenge to make this type of connection with every listener, placing your attention on individuals or groups located in different areas of the room can create a sense of intimacy with the audience as a whole.

Gestures

How you physically present yourself will reflect your confidence and influence the level at which your audience perceives your authority. Make sure you match your gestures to your message. Also try to use gestures that bring life to some of the verbs in your speech. Keep in mind that the size of your gestures should also match the size of the room/audience so that everyone can appreciate what you are communicating.

Voice

Your voice quality also makes a difference in people’s attention span. Emulate engaging storytelling techniques such as varying the volume, pitch, pace and emotional range of your voice while telling a story. Also, make sure your voice’s tone matches your speech, facial expressions and gestures.

When thinking about how to give a keynote speech, it is essential to devote as much time practicing your delivery as you do in developing the content. Just remember the classic advice, “It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it!”

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