how to make a good career choice speech

Speech on Career Choice (Short & Long Speech) For Students

Speech on career choice, introduction.

Respected Principal Sir/Madam, teachers and dear fellow students. Before this beautiful day I have been given a lucky chance to address you all. In my full effort and power I intend to say a few words regarding my topic- “Career Choice”.

The most difficult part of this endeavor is being sure about anything in particular. Sometimes we decide something but life takes us to different paths and we stumble on things more suitable for us. We fall in love with something sometimes and that may be out of conventional career choice but it is good for us as far as our satisfaction is concerned. But above all we must not forget that each and every career choice and field of trade is a golden opportunity, a chance to make a difference in this world, to change the way things are, their very roots and form. In a way our career choices reveal a lot about our own nature. Our qualities are tested in every way. Students are forged in the fire of their passions and responsibilities as a leader and they make way for the generations to move on with their moral duty. For such important decisions to be taken by student alone isn’t a very wise thing to do I think, and I suggest we take counsel from our parents, teachers, and career counselor. Schools must provide career counselors for students to seek appropriate advice regarding choosing careers based on their preference.

In the end I want to say that life is more than mere our trade and careers, life is full and colors, wishes, love and ambition. We should always strive to be better than yesterday. And believe me we can change our situations and life for better if we try more. Thanks for being such a patient crowd.

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20 Career Speech: Tell Them Who You Are and Why You Matter to Them

A very excited college senior came to me and said, “Dr. Meade, I have the opportunity of a lifetime, will you please help me?” She went on to tell me she was a finalist for a very prestigious internship with a major magazine in New York. They were flying her out at the end of the month where she and three other finalists would each make a 3-5 minute presentation. The prompt was, “Tell us about yourself.”  Her dream internship hung on the outcome of her three-minute speech. That was a lot of pressure. There wasn’t a lot of information out there on how to succeed at such as speech, so I pulled resources from career centers, from persuasion theory, and from models of good speech practice and created a template for her. It worked– she got the internship! Since that time, more students have come with similar speech tasks, and each time we have applied this template with great success.

There are many ways employers determine which person is the right candidate for a particular position. You are likely familiar with the cover letters, resumes, and interviews, however, the concept of giving a speech as part of an interview may be new to you.

Let me share a few examples of what this speech “looks like.”

Example from a Student

E-MAIL FROM A STUDENT:

I learned a ton last semester and I have my first chance to put your teachings to work in a real-world situation. I recently interviewed with a company (XXX Oil Services) and what do you know I got called back for another interview! They are flying me out to Houston, and they will hold interviews over two days. Part of the requirements for the interview process is that I give a 5-7 minute speech. Here is a little sample of the e-mail they have sent me, and I have attached a short PowerPoint© guideline they have sent as well:

Student Presentations As part of the interview process, you are required to do a 5 – 7 minute presentation about your life accomplishments. Please review the attached PowerPoint for details and bring your presentation on a flash drive to your interview. Please prepare a presentation (5-7 minutes) in which you

Summarize the accomplishments of your life so far,

Explain what your goals are and

Demonstrate that you are the ideal candidate for XXX  Services

Example from a Human Resource Manager Regarding an Oral Resume

We give candidates 30 minutes to prepare for the exercise, but we have already informed the candidates that they should put together an oral resume presentation ahead of time.  That is to say, a few weeks prior to the assessment center I meet with the candidates and tell them that they will have this exercise.  They should put together a presentation of about 8 minutes in length that presents their qualifications for the job.  I typically emphasize that a simple listing of every course they’ve ever taken or every certification they hold is not very effective.  Instead, they should focus on how both their educational and experiential backgrounds have contributed to who they are, how they perform in their current position, and how they will perform in their promoted position. During the 30 minute preparation period, candidates are given the instructions that tell them they will have 8 minutes for their initial presentation on their resume (this time varies depending on the overall length of the exercise and maybe as long as 15 minutes), and the remaining 12 minutes (or longer depending on the overall length of the exercise) will be devoted to answering the interview questions which are presented to them on the next page.  Typically, for a 12-minute answer period, we would provide them 4 interview questions. We inform them both during the candidate orientations and the instructions that the assessors will be asking follow-up questions.  I believe this is an essential aspect of a good oral resume and a good assessment center.  I encourage follow-up questions from the assessors.  So often it is not the initial response that is revealing but rather the candidate’s rationale behind the decision that is so important in evaluating the candidate.

Example from a Career Services Specialist

I interviewed Renee Clay Director for Career Services and Students Programs, Walton Career Services and she said companies are asking students to give speeches at follow-up interviews. She said she has even encountered situations where they ask applicants to give a ten-minute speech on a topic of their choice.

What does this look like in the “Real World”?

• Companies are using career speech by asking applicants to give a speech with the prompt: Why are you a good fit for this company?
• Religious groups (Mostly, Christian Churches) are using career speeches by asking the applicants to give a speech with the prompt: What is your ministry philosophy?
• Educational groups are asking future teaches to give a career speech with the prompt: Show us a lesson plan and talk us through the pedagogy.
• Not for Profits are using this career speech by asking applicants to give a speech with a prompt: Tell us how your ideals align with our mission statement.
• Internships are using career speeches by asking applicants to give a career speech with prompts such as the following: What do you hope to get out of this internship?

This Speech Is Important

This may be one of the most important speeches you have to give.  Most of you will spend four to six years in college and this is the speech that can make all that studying finally pay off.  Resist the temptation to under prepare for this speech. Don’t put it off and don’t let the fear of failure or fear of success stop you from giving the best speech possible. You should put more work into this speech than the papers and tests you did in college.  “Procrastination is the fear of success,” according to motivational speaker Denis Waitley. “People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the ‘someday I’ll’ philosophy.”

Let’s get started on building the speech.

Step One: Learn Everything You Can About the Company.

All good speeches begin with knowing your audience. Start with the job posting and write down the specific things they are looking for. What are the specific skills, what values are represented, what can you learn about the company from what they say about themselves in the job posting?  Go to the company’s mission and values statement and add it to your research. If it is a larger company, look at the individual division and research its mission and purpose. If you are a college student, check with your career services office and see what information they know about the company. Many career service groups keep databases on major companies and what they look for in candidates, who they know are alums, and many even have lists of the most frequently asked items in their interviews.

If possible, find out who will be listening to your speech. Lauren Rivera, Associate Professor of Management and Organization conducted 120 interviews of hiring professionals and found interviewers are looking for people who are similar to themselves. She suggests there are three reasons for this:  (1)  interviewers believe the person will be the best fit, (2) interviewers look for people who define merit the same way that they do because it validates their own self-image, and (3) interviewers get excited about candidates that share their same passions. The more you know about those doing the interview, the more you can make connections.

You have three goals at this point:

• Research the company so you can make direct references to it in your speech.
• Familiarize yourself with the core competencies they are looking for so that you can match them to your skillset.
• Learn enough about the company and interviewees so you can find similarities.

Step Two: Brainstorm What You Have to Offer

They liked your resume, they interviewed you, and now they are inviting you back to see if you are a good fit for the company. At this point, it does not benefit you to stand and reread your resume to them.  You are qualified or they would not ask you back for another interview.  They want to know you will pull your weight in the company, but they also want to know if you are someone they would want to spend time with at the office and after work. Now, they are trying to decide if they LIKE. Y ou should pass the  Airport, Holiday Party, and Convention Tests.

• Would the interviewer want to be stranded in an airport in a snowstorm with you?
• Would the interviewer want to introduce their family to you at the holiday party?
• Would they want to have dinner with you at the three-day business convention?

Your goal is to be MEMORABLE, LIKABLE, and to DEMONSTRATE you have characteristics they NEED. In order to do that, you need to take a good, hard look at what you have to offer and I’m not talking about your previous jobs or even your GPA.

1. Take Personality, Leadership, and Career Assessment Tests

I suggest taking a version of the Myers-Briggs, Jung Typology. http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality.  *  Use the results to highlight some strengths you might not have thought of in your brainstorming. Once you get your results, cut and paste them into a document and highlight everything that applies to you that might be of value to the employer. For example, when I look up my type it says that I am creative and I like to come up with original solutions. Yes, that fits.

Let’s work with that for now. If I am trying to think of attributes that stand out about me, my creativity and ingenuity might be something that I want to highlight. I would check that attribute against what the company looks for and if it were something that the position would require, then I might decide to develop that. I will write that on my list of possible things to focus on–CREATIVITY and INGENUITY.

Take a variety of tests that you have access to.  Consider taking a leadership test and a personality test. If you are a college student, your career center likely has paid for those tests so you can take them.  If you have access to Strengths Quest© ,  Enneagram©, or the Myers-Briggs© Test, take them.  Use whatever test you can access to complete a worksheet of your strengths.

2. Ask Your Friends, Family, and Coworkers

Find those who know you and ask them a series of questions. Resist the temptation to disagree or defend when they share, just listen, and write the responses.

What could I bring to ___ company? Why would someone hire someone like me? What would set me apart from other candidates? What do you think is my strongest attribute?

3. Figure Out What Gets You Up in the Morning

A career advisor for the Walton College of Business asks students, “What gets you up in the morning?” and “What is your why?”  Think about what really drives you and make it part of the story you tell.

Step Three: Match Your Strengths to What the Company Needs

Now comes the deep thinking. Look at some of the words that came out from your personality tests and from the words that your friends used to describe you.  Look at what special qualities you have to offer. How can you match those with what the company is looking for? How do they relate to the core competencies that the company needs?   Try to find three strengths about you that will be valuable to the company.

Most speech prompts (and interview questions) can be answered with “these are my three strengths.”

Question: Tell me about yourself.

Answer: These are the strengths that set me apart.

Question: Why should I give you the job over someone else?

Question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Answer: These are the strengths that set me apart and where they will take me.

Question: Why do you think you are a good fit for the company?

Answer: These are the strengths that make me a good fit.

Question: What is your leadership style?

Answer: These are the strengths that make me this type of leader.

Most of the time, you can develop your career speech by highlighting your three main strengths. It is worth mentioning that when colleges poll employers and ask them what they are looking for, they list problem-solving skills and the ability to work as a team at the top of the list. If these would be considered valuable where you are interviewing, you should talk about those.

Figure 1: Attributes Employers Seek on a Candidate’s Resume

Source:  Job Outlook 2020 , National Association of Colleges and Employers

Step Four: Develop Your Strengths into a Narrative

Let’s face it. Most of the time, the answers people give whether in an interview or speech are boring, they lack substance, and they sound like a form letter. “I am a people person who demonstrates good customer service. I believe in hard work and ….bla, bla, bla.” Meaningless words bounce off the ears. Nothing memorable.

If you want to be remembered, tell a story. First, start with your attribute. I had a student who said he was hard-working. He was worried because he didn’t have any “real” work experience they might not think of him as hard-working. Once we brainstormed, he realized that he spent every summer on his grandpa’s cattle farm. He was out mending fences before the sun rose and many days he would work until dark. He said, “Cows don’t care what day of the week it is.”  He told a story about how his grandfather taught him to work hard and how it was a family legacy to take pride in the work that was done–hard work was a badge of honor. By the time he was done with his story, I would have hired him for just about anything. By storytelling, he convinced me that he would give it his all. He didn’t tell me he was a hard worker, he proved he was a hard worker. His story was detailed enough that we could see him in our mind’s eye. He told a story we could remember. The added benefit of storytelling is that stories make us feel something. When your story is done, the audience doesn’t just know something about you, they feel something about you.

Anytime you apply for a position, think about the people tasked with listening to interviews all day long.  Get into their heads. The fact they need to hire someone means work is not getting done. Maybe, they are having to do extra work until you are hired. Maybe this is a new position, and they are hoping to make changes in the company once they get someone hired. The fact they are hiring often means they have a lot going on and they are eager to get it going, but they also may be feeling cautious because they need to find the right person.  In addition, to meeting with you, they have to do their own job, answer their own emails, deal with customers or coworkers, and figure out what to make for dinner. They may even have to coach the soccer team or volunteer at the food bank.  You get it– they are busy. They are busy, they may be stressed so do them a favor and make it easy for them to listen. Be interesting. Do not waste their time.

Imagine when you are writing this speech, that in addition to listening to you, they must listen to at least three other speeches. Imagine after hearing all these speeches that they are going to do their job, go home and do their home time, listen to the news on the way to work, and then come back 24 hours later to make their decision. After time and all those distractions, will they remember you and your strengths? If you only said, “I’m hardworking,” then probably not. If you told a story proving you are hardworking, they will remember your story; they will remember you, and they might even tell someone about this incredible presentation they heard.

When building this story, it can be one big story that hits on the three strengths that you want them to remember, or it can be three stories–one for each strength. I once had a student who took the three main ideas from the company’s mission statement and told one story of how she exemplified each of those. It was very direct and very audience-centered, and she used that speech to start a new career with her dream company right out of college.

If you are successful, any person listening should be able to repeat your main strengths and repeat your story.  Most importantly, they should feel you are competent and motivated.

Step Five: Start Writing and Write it Bird by Bird

It is hard to write about yourself and you are going to have to summons the courage to do it well. Writer Anne Lamont writes about this struggle.

Every writer you know writes really terrible first drafts, but they keep their butt in the chair. That’s the secret of life. That’s probably the main difference between you and them. They just do it. They do it by prearrangement with themselves. They do it as a debt of honor. They tell stories that come through them one day at a time, little by little. When my older brother was in fourth grade, he had a term paper on birds due the next day, and he hadn’t started. So my dad sat down with him with an Audubon book, paper, pencils, and brads — for those of you who have gotten a little less young and remember brads — and he said to my brother, “Just take it bird by bird, buddy. Just read about pelicans and then write about pelicans in your own voice. And then find out about chickadees, and tell us about them in your own voice. And then geese.” So, the two most important things about writing are bird by bird and really god-awful first drafts. If you don’t know where to start, remember that every single thing that happened to you is yours, and you get to tell it.

You too should write your really terrible first draft and you should tell a story in your own voice. With all your research in front of you, you should start writing bird by bird, story by story.

Step Six: Begin Strong

The very first sentence of your speech should be powerful. You should pluck that sentence out and you should test it on a trusted mentor. Each word in that sentence should be intentional. Soon after that strong first sentence should be your name. You want them to link the strength of those words with your name. You should memorize your opening so you can deliver it with strength.

I didn’t choose teaching, teaching chose me.  When I came home from kindergarten, I set up school in the back yard and taught the neighborhood kids their ABC’s. I guess you could say, I’ve always been a teacher. Good morning, my name is Frankie Lane, and I want to tell you why I am a good fit for the teaching position. As a teacher, I am enthusiastic, innovative, and encouraging and I would like to demonstrate those attributes to you today.  The regional manager flew into Northwest Arkansas to meet with me. He flew in so he could ask me face to face how my sales strategy resulted in 12% increase in computer sales. He brought with him a team that was ready to listen.  My name is Bob Smith, and I would like to share with you what three things I shared with them that day.  If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, and become more, you are a leader. John Quincy Adams.  I believe this quote summarize my leadership philosophy that I want to share with you today. Good morning my name is Frankie Lane, and I would like to tell you how this quote defines my leadership style and why I am a good fit for Amazing Example Company.

Not only should that first sentence be written to have an impact, but it should also be delivered well. Memorize your opening. Know it so well that you could recite it easily. Practice it in the car, practice it in the shower, practice it while talking to your pet.  Resist the temptation to start with “ok so” or “um.” You have been working up to this speech all your adult life, you spent hours studying for tests, writing papers, and completing assignments so you could get to this moment. You owe it to yourself to put in the work and to make this speech work for you.

Step Seven: Refer to the Company Throughout

Remember,  this is not really a speech about you, it is a speech about them and what they need.  Because of this, it is important to talk about the company throughout your speech. “As I was researching your company, I came across a headline that said you were developing one of the largest interactive art displays in the area. As a consumer of outdoor art, I…” or “Your organization’s commitment to the environment is inspiring. I became active in environmental issues as part of a collegewide initiative…” A career services specialist suggests, “Don’t tell me who you are, tell me why you matter to me.”

A common mistake is when speakers act as if they are informing the audience instead of talking to an audience that is familiar. Let me explain. I had a student say, Walmart’s mission statement is “to save people money so they can live better.” This sounds like the speaker is informing the audience of something they should already know. Instead, they should say “as you already know…” or “we can agree on a key component of the mission statement.”

Step Eight: Practice Your Speech

You have researched the company and decided on how to present yourself.  Make yourself brief notecards outlining your presentation and begin practicing. You need to practice your speech enough that you could say most of it without notes. Memorize the opening and the closing because those can be the most difficult parts and tend to be the places where the audience is most likely to build impressions of you. If you are required to use presentation slides, be sure to practice with your slides, and perfect the timing. ( For more help on slides refer to the chapter: Making Presentation Slides)

In addition to practicing by yourself, you should practice your speech in front of a trusted professional and ask them for honest and detailed feedback. You should also record your speech and watch it as if you were the hiring team. Oftentimes when I practice, I will draw a smiley face on a piece of paper and put a name under it President of the company, and then another with a smiley face and a name, future co-worker. It reminds me that I’m not delivering to a wall but to people. When you practice, tape your smiley audience around the room and speak to them directly, “The director of development will be happy to know that I have successfully…”

For more: Refer to the Chapter on Delivery Advice: Do Not Imagine the Audience Naked! Managing Eye Contact, Movement, and Gestures

Step Nine: End Strong

The very last sentence is where you “seal the deal.” Most of the time, this sentence will not come easily. I once read a book where the writer talked about sitting on the floor rocking back and forth wondering why she even bothered and why nothing good was coming to mind. Maybe writing the closing, is not quite that hard for you, but it will be for the rest of us. We will feel self-doubt and inadequacy and will even question why we are bothering in the first place.  If that happens to you, walk away and do something you love, and remember your “Why.” Why are you pushing yourself? Remember how hard you worked to get here. Remember what gets you up in the morning. After you walked off the self-doubt, come back and write that perfect ending. Look at the last three words and make sure they are words with power.

Example from a Career Speech

SPEECH OPENING

A job isn’t just a job. It’s who you are. I’m Kelsey Gomez, and today, I’m not going to tell you why I think I’m best suited for this job—I know I am. Instead, I’m here to prove to you that this isn’t just a job to me, it’s a position that I feel best brings out what I was born to do in life. Company’s Name is working to make America a better place to be a child and raise a family.  To do this, a person needs to have passion, strong communication skills, enthusiasm to learn and gain experience, and the flexibility to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment—and here’s how I possess all of these qualities.

She told 3 stories to prove her attributes

SPEECH CLOSING

  My whole life, I never dreamed of success—I worked for it.  I did this by helping others, educating myself, and handling everything that came my way with poise and determination. A job isn’t just a job, it’s who you are. And, who I am is a passionate, flexible, and driven person who yearns to make a difference in people’s lives.  The best way to predict the future is to create it.  And I believe, if you hire me, Company’s Name and I can create something worthwhile.

Step Ten: Present the Total Package

Your speech begins the moment they see you. Your “speech” begins whether you are speaking or not. I once worked for a firm that would have candidates wait in a waiting room before the interview. The administrative assistant would offer them water while they waited. Little did the job candidates know that the assistant was taking notes on their behavior in the waiting room. Were they polite when offered a drink? Were they poised while in the waiting room? Were they prepared? Another strategy I have witnessed firsthand is a business that had applicants write something, if they had to borrow a pen, they clearly weren’t prepared. I’ve even heard of interviewers who watched the applicant pull up to see if the person’s car is clean. It does little good to say you pay attention to details and drive up in a dirty car.

Potential employers begin sizing you up immediately. Are you dressed properly? Are your shoes clean?  Are you sitting attentively? Are you preoccupied with your phone in the waiting room? Are you walking with confidence? Are you picking your nails? Are you listening respectfully? Everything they see you do or say is part of the interview.

In nonverbal communication terms, trappings are those artifacts that enact stereotypes–a stethoscope around the neck means the person is a doctor or nurse, a briefcase means the person is a business professional.  It will benefit you to consider trappings and what yours say about you.  Think about the difference between a sports watch and a fancy watch and the message it sends. Depending on the job, one may be preferred. For example, I had a student who researched the group she was interviewing with and realized that high fashion handbags seemed to be important. She borrowed a friends’ name-brand bag and then was delighted when someone in the group commented about it in the interview meeting. She wrote me a message afterward that said, “They hired me over other candidates who had higher GPA’s and more experience and I think it is because I researched them so well that I knew what they were looking for. I really think my bag helped close the deal.”

It is worth noting that many career specialists suggest not carrying a bag–in this situation it was an intentional decision based on her research. 

Dress the part. Research the standard dress for the organization. Be cautious, however, because they may wear athleisure wear to work each day, but they expect job candidates to wear a suit for interviews. As a college student, you have a big advantage because you likely have a career center that keeps records of the clothing suggestions for interviewing and many will even have places that will loan you professional clothing items for interviews.  Pay close attention to your shoes–they are very important. If at all possible, buy new shoes.  Yes, it may be an expensive item, but so was your education. Time and time again human resources directors and career specialists tell me that the way that people know whether you pay attention to important details is to look at their shoes.

Handshake Matters

In American business, you should shake hands with the interviewer and key members of the group. Several things go into a good handshake. First is the condition of your hand.  You should have neatly manicured nails and clean hands. If you are prone to have sweaty hands, it is a good idea to keep a napkin in your pocket to wipe the sweat off your hand before you shake.

Next, have a firm but not overly aggressive grip. When you reach for someone’s hand, you should open your hand wide enough that the web of skin between your pointer finger and thumb is aiming for the web of their hand. Hands should be so neither person’s hand is on top. Pump your hand two to three times.  When you shake hands, look them in the eye and try to say the person’s name and something nice. “Mr. Jackson, I am so glad to have the opportunity to talk with you today. ”

When you shake hands with someone that it gives them a positive feeling (if it is an appropriate handshake). When you attach that handshake with their name, you activate even more positive feelings. Research even suggests that other people in the room who see you give a nice handshake will get positive feelings about you. Before an interview, it is a good idea to practice your handshake with friends.

Finally, handshakes vary by culture, so if you are interviewing in a different culture, you should research greeting traditions.

Career speeches are always about you being the best version of yourself. I never have more self-doubt than when I’m doing a job search. I usually have to remind myself that I am smart enough and good enough to apply for this job.

I want you to know, you are good enough. You have worked hard to get here, you are ready.  I give you permission to be powerful and confident–it’s time to shine.

Bonus Feature Presenting Academic Research at Conferences or at Job Talks

MIT Professor, Patrick Winston talks about the basics of public speaking and then gives his students advice on how to give a research talk or job talk. If you are headed to a conference or if you are showing your research at a conference, watch this talk for some great advice.

Key Takeaways

Remember This!

• A career speech is not the place you recite your resume, but rather it is where you prove your strengths.
• Telling a story helps your audience remember you.

åström, J. (1994). Introductory greeting behavior: A laboratory investigation of approaching and closing salutation phases. Perceptual and Motor Skills ,  79 (2), 863–897.  https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1994.79.2.863

Barrick, M. R., Swider, B. W., & Stewart, G. L. (2010). Initial evaluations in the interview: Relationships with subsequent interviewer evaluations and employment offers.  Journal of Applied Psychology, 95 , 1163–1172. doi:10.1037/a0019918

Chaplin, W. F., Phillips, J. B., Brown, J. D., Clanton, N. R., & Stein, J. L. (2000). Handshaking, gender, personality, and first impressions.  Journal of personality and social psychology ,  79 (1), 110–117. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.79.1.110 Available online: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp791110.pdf

Clay, R.  Director for Career Services and Students Programs, Walton Career Services. (2020). Personal Interview.

Ellis, D. A., & Jenkins, R. (2015). Watch-wearing as a marker of conscientiousness.  PeerJ ,  3 , e1210. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1210

Renee Clay Director for Career Services and Students Programs, Walton Career Services. Personal Interview. November 22, 2020.

Dougherty, T. W., Turban, D. B., & Callender, J. C. (1994). Confirming first impressions in the employment interview: A field study of interviewer behavior.  Journal of Applied Psychology ,  79 , 659–665. DOI:  10.1037//0021-9010.79.5.659

Interviewing Skills. Walton College of Business Website. https://walton.uark.edu/career/students/interviewing.php 

Lamont, Anne, Twelve truths I learned from life and writing. TED Talk Feb 12, 2019. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.dailygood.org/story/2187/12-truths-i-learned-from-life-and-writing-anne-lamott/

National Association of College and Employers. (2020). The top attributes employers want to see on resumes. https://www.naceweb.org/about-us/press/2020/the-top-attributes-employers-want-to-see-on-resumes/

Rivera, L. (2013). Hirable like me. https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/hirable_like_me

Winston, P. (2019). How to speak by Patrick Winston. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unzc731iCUY

* (I could write an entire chapter on how a test can never tell you who you are, and I could debate the validity of most of these tests, but that won’t be necessary, because the way that I have you use it, it will be valuable. I don’t want the tests to tell you who you are or who you can be. I want you to look at the results of these tests and look at what you think fits. )

Media Attributions

• Man carrying a briefcase © Marten Bjork is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license
• tom-rogerson–PYkAUIVi_M-unsplash © Tom Rogerson
• Professional in front of a whiteboard © ThisisEngineering RAEng is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license
• Two women professionally dressed © Christina is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license

Advanced Public Speaking Copyright © 2021 by Lynn Meade is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Top 5 Motivational Speeches for Anyone Considering a Career Change

You’re not happy in your job, and you’re afraid to make a move?

Sometimes when we feel really stuck it just takes a little motivation to generate powerful action.

Compelling, inspiring speeches can do just that.

Here are 5 motivational speeches for anyone considering a career change.

Steve Jobs – “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish”

Steve Job’s speech at Stanford University in 2005 might just bring you to tears.

Although he was diagnosed with cancer at the time, Jobs still accepted the invitation to give a commencement speech. In it, he shared some meaningful stories that changed his life.

The tech guru talks about life and connecting the dots, love, loss and death. His intention was to motivate students to stay confident and believe in themselves.

The speech is powerful, and emotional. Jobs’ main advice for his audience is to have trust. Believe in something, and eventually you’ll attain your goals.

Apple’s founder was a creative genius, a visionary and a revolutionary innovator. People of all ages should listen to his speech because it’s not just motivating, it is life-changing.

Sheryl Sandberg: Too Few Women Leaders

Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg held an extremely motivating speech at the TED Conference in 2010.

She talked about women, and about the fact that very few modern women are successful business individuals. Sheryl is extremely charismatic, and she emphasizes that although we live in a contemporary society where women have rights and are independent, there are still issues about creating successful careers.

Jeff Bezos – “Cleverness is a Gift, Kindness is a Choice”

Founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, delivered an engaging and inspiring keynote speech for graduates at the Princeton University.

He talked about main differences between choices in life and gifts in life. Bezos encourages his audience to use gifts with other people with kindness, and he advises students to do everything in their power to succeed.

This speech is moving, bold and expressive. Bezos wants to help people make a choice and decide between a life of ease and a life of service. What will it be? Sometimes making a career change is the right thing to do, you just need someone to convince you take that leap of faith.

Oprah Winfrey – “Failure is Just Another Step to Achieve Greatness”

Oprah Winfrey presented a riveting commencement speech in 2008, at Stanford University.

In it, she shared a wealth of life-related and work-related experiences, and focused on the infinite learning opportunities we have in life.

She believes that success can be achieved only if you remain open-minded, focused, and enthusiastic. Self-improvement is the key to success. Winfrey emphasized that people should learn a lesson from everything they do because those lessons will eventually shape and define their personality and their beliefs.

J.K Rowling – “Failure is Necessary to Truly Get to Know Yourself”

British novelist J.K. Rowling is best known for her Harry Potter books.

She gave an unbelievable speech at the Harvard University wherein she talked about the importance of imagination and the great benefits of failure.

Rowling used powerful words to motivate the audience, and she didn’t hesitate to admit that her personal failures helped build and shape her success.

If you’re looking to switch careers but you’re scared of disappointment, listening to this amazing speech will boost your confidence as Rowling explains her view that failure is the whole point of living.

Are you thinking of switching careers? Do you want something more from life but you’re scared of taking a risk? Check out the above mentioned speeches for a boost of confidence.

About the Author : Christopher Austin  is a regular contributor at many sites, mainly focusing on business related topics. He recommends  LondonSpeakerBureau.com  to provide speakers from all over the world  for all types of briefs and budgets.

Image courtesy of khattaway . 

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Selection Criteria

Ideas for structuring your career talk.

You’ve been invited to give a presentation at a conference about your career. You have been chosen because of your particular profession, area of specialisation, track record of achievement.

What are you going to say?

One temptation is to give a talk based on a chronology of events. This is an abridged autobiography that covers all the details you consider important.

The talk is comprehensive. It creates a detailed picture of having done a huge volume of interesting assignments.

But is this the only way to organise your story? And is it the best way?

If you have been walking the planet for a few decades this version of events can be overwhelming for an audience. They may well be impressed that you have accomplished so much, but will it have the desired impact?

And there is the nub of the issue. Have you figured out what your purpose is for this presentation?

Your purpose will be based on what you know about the context of your talk (why you have been asked to present and the theme of the meeting/conference) and what you know about the audience. Is the audience informed about your profession? Are they likely to be uninformed? Do they want a snapshot? Do they want to know about the highlights?

This information will then guide your purpose. Your purpose might be some combination of informing, persuading, entertaining, educating.

Being clear about your purpose will then guide your speech structure. A detailed chronology may not educate, persuade, entertain or even inform.

So how else could you structure your presentation? Here are 12 questions to guide your content selection:

• Why did I get into this career in the first place?
• What keeps me motivated?
• What have been the highlights of my career?
• Who has helped me along the way?
• What have I learnt along the way?
• Why should others enter this career?
• What are some of the myths or misperceptions about this career?
• What was awful at the time but I can laugh about it now?
• What are the range of pathways to enter this career?
• What are some of the challenges I have faced?
• How do you balance the various components of your life?
• What are my main contributions?

Thinking through these questions will help you come up with a structure that is more relevant, is purpose-built, and likely more engaging than a detailed chronology.

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Your Step-By-Step Guide to Choosing a Career

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8 Steps to Choosing a Career

DAWN ROSENBERG MCKAY

With thousands of options, how will you  choose a career  that’s right for you? If you don’t have any idea what you want to do, the task may seem insurmountable. Fortunately, it isn’t. Follow an organized process and you will increase your chances of making a good decision.

1. Assess Yourself

Before you can choose the right career, you must learn about yourself. Your values, interests, soft skills, and aptitudes, in combination with your personality type, make some occupations a good fit for you and others completely inappropriate.

Use  self-assessment tools , and  career tests  to gather information about your traits and, subsequently, generate a list of occupations that are a good fit based on them. Some people choose to work with a  career counselor or other career development professionals who can help them navigate this process.

2. Make a List of Occupations to Explore

You probably have multiple lists of occupations in front of you at this point—one generated by each of the self-assessment tools you used. To keep yourself organized, you should combine them into one master list.

First, look for careers that appear on multiple lists and copy them onto a blank page. Title it “Occupations to Explore.” Your  self-assessments  ​indicated they are a good fit for you based on several of your traits, so they’re definitely worth exploring.

Next, find any occupations on your lists that appeal to you. They may be careers you know a bit about and want to explore further. Also, include professions about which you don’t know much. You might learn something unexpected.

3. Explore the Occupations on Your List

At this point, you’ll be thrilled you managed to narrow your list down to only 10 to 20 options. Now you can get some basic information about each of the occupations on your list.

Find  job descriptions  and educational, training, and licensing requirements in published sources. Learn about advancement opportunities. Use government-produced  labor market information to get data about earnings and job outlook.

4. Create a “Short List”

Now you have more information, start to narrow down your list even further. Based on what you learned from your research so far, begin eliminating the careers you don’t want to pursue any further. You should end up with two to five occupations on your “short list.”

If your reasons for finding a career unacceptable are non-negotiable, cross it off your list. Remove everything with duties that don’t appeal to you. Eliminate careers that have weak  job outlooks . Get rid of any occupation if you are unable or unwilling to fulfill the educational or other requirements, or if you lack some of the soft skills necessary to succeed in it.

When you have only a few occupations left on your list, start doing more in-depth research. Arrange to meet with people who work in the occupations in which you are interested. They can provide firsthand knowledge about the careers on your short list. Access your  network , including LinkedIn, to find people with whom to have these  informational interviews .

Finally, after doing all your research, you are probably ready to make your choice. Pick the occupation that you think will bring you the most satisfaction based on all the information you have gathered. Realize that you are allowed do-overs if you change your mind about your choice at any point in your life. Many people  change their careers at least a few times.

7. Identify Your Goals

Once you make a decision, identify your  long- and short-term goals . This helps to chart a course toward eventually landing work in your chosen field. Long-term goals typically take about three to five years to reach, while you can usually fulfill a short-term goal in six months to three years.

Let the research you did about required education and training be your guide. If you don’t have all the details, do some more research. Once you have all the information you need, set your goals. An example of a long-term goal would be completing your education and training. Short-term goals include applying to college, apprenticeships, other training programs, and internships.

8. Write a Career Action Plan

Put together a  career action plan ,  a written document that lays out all the steps you will have to take to reach your goals. Think of it as a road map that will take you from point A to B, then to C and D. Write down all your short- and long-term goals and the steps you will have to take to reach each one. Include any anticipated barriers that could get in the way of achieving your goals—and the ways you can overcome them.

This may sound like a lot of work—and it is. But it’s much easier to forge a career path when you know what you want. Taking these steps early will save you a lot of struggle and uncertainty in the long run.

Originally published at TheBalanceCareers.com

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How to write a speech that your audience remembers

Whether in a work meeting or at an investor panel, you might give a speech at some point. And no matter how excited you are about the opportunity, the experience can be nerve-wracking . 

But feeling butterflies doesn’t mean you can’t give a great speech. With the proper preparation and a clear outline, apprehensive public speakers and natural wordsmiths alike can write and present a compelling message. Here’s how to write a good speech you’ll be proud to deliver.

What is good speech writing?

Good speech writing is the art of crafting words and ideas into a compelling, coherent, and memorable message that resonates with the audience. Here are some key elements of great speech writing:

• It begins with clearly understanding the speech's purpose and the audience it seeks to engage. 
• A well-written speech clearly conveys its central message, ensuring that the audience understands and retains the key points. 
• It is structured thoughtfully, with a captivating opening, a well-organized body, and a conclusion that reinforces the main message. 
• Good speech writing embraces the power of engaging content, weaving in stories, examples, and relatable anecdotes to connect with the audience on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Ultimately, it is the combination of these elements, along with the authenticity and delivery of the speaker , that transforms words on a page into a powerful and impactful spoken narrative.

What makes a good speech?

A great speech includes several key qualities, but three fundamental elements make a speech truly effective:

Clarity and purpose

Remembering the audience, cohesive structure.

While other important factors make a speech a home run, these three elements are essential for writing an effective speech.

The main elements of a good speech

The main elements of a speech typically include:

• Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.
• Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.
• Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.
• Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.
• Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.
• Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.
• Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.
• Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.
• Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact , voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

While the order and emphasis of these elements may vary depending on the type of speech and audience, these elements provide a framework for organizing and delivering a successful speech.

How to structure a good speech

You know what message you want to transmit, who you’re delivering it to, and even how you want to say it. But you need to know how to start, develop, and close a speech before writing it. 

Think of a speech like an essay. It should have an introduction, conclusion, and body sections in between. This places ideas in a logical order that the audience can better understand and follow them. Learning how to make a speech with an outline gives your storytelling the scaffolding it needs to get its point across.

Here’s a general speech structure to guide your writing process:

• Explanation 1
• Explanation 2
• Explanation 3

How to write a compelling speech opener

Some research shows that engaged audiences pay attention for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Other estimates are even lower, citing that people stop listening intently in fewer than 10 minutes . If you make a good first impression at the beginning of your speech, you have a better chance of interesting your audience through the middle when attention spans fade. 

Implementing the INTRO model can help grab and keep your audience’s attention as soon as you start speaking. This acronym stands for interest, need, timing, roadmap, and objectives, and it represents the key points you should hit in an opening. 

Here’s what to include for each of these points: 

• Interest : Introduce yourself or your topic concisely and speak with confidence . Write a compelling opening statement using relevant data or an anecdote that the audience can relate to.
• Needs : The audience is listening to you because they have something to learn. If you’re pitching a new app idea to a panel of investors, those potential partners want to discover more about your product and what they can earn from it. Read the room and gently remind them of the purpose of your speech. 
• Timing : When appropriate, let your audience know how long you’ll speak. This lets listeners set expectations and keep tabs on their own attention span. If a weary audience member knows you’ll talk for 40 minutes, they can better manage their energy as that time goes on. 
• Routemap : Give a brief overview of the three main points you’ll cover in your speech. If an audience member’s attention starts to drop off and they miss a few sentences, they can more easily get their bearings if they know the general outline of the presentation.
• Objectives : Tell the audience what you hope to achieve, encouraging them to listen to the end for the payout. 

Writing the middle of a speech

The body of your speech is the most information-dense section. Facts, visual aids, PowerPoints — all this information meets an audience with a waning attention span. Sticking to the speech structure gives your message focus and keeps you from going off track, making everything you say as useful as possible.

Limit the middle of your speech to three points, and support them with no more than three explanations. Following this model organizes your thoughts and prevents you from offering more information than the audience can retain. 

Using this section of the speech to make your presentation interactive can add interest and engage your audience. Try including a video or demonstration to break the monotony. A quick poll or survey also keeps the audience on their toes. 

Wrapping the speech up

To you, restating your points at the end can feel repetitive and dull. You’ve practiced countless times and heard it all before. But repetition aids memory and learning , helping your audience retain what you’ve told them. Use your speech’s conclusion to summarize the main points with a few short sentences.

Try to end on a memorable note, like posing a motivational quote or a thoughtful question the audience can contemplate once they leave. In proposal or pitch-style speeches, consider landing on a call to action (CTA) that invites your audience to take the next step.

How to write a good speech

If public speaking gives you the jitters, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of the population feels nervous before giving a speech, and another 10% percent experiences intense anxiety and sometimes even panic. 

The fear of failure can cause procrastination and can cause you to put off your speechwriting process until the last minute. Finding the right words takes time and preparation, and if you’re already feeling nervous, starting from a blank page might seem even harder.

But putting in the effort despite your stress is worth it. Presenting a speech you worked hard on fosters authenticity and connects you to the subject matter, which can help your audience understand your points better. Human connection is all about honesty and vulnerability, and if you want to connect to the people you’re speaking to, they should see that in you.

1. Identify your objectives and target audience

Before diving into the writing process, find healthy coping strategies to help you stop worrying . Then you can define your speech’s purpose, think about your target audience, and start identifying your objectives. Here are some questions to ask yourself and ground your thinking : 

• What purpose do I want my speech to achieve? 
• What would it mean to me if I achieved the speech’s purpose?
• What audience am I writing for? 
• What do I know about my audience? 
• What values do I want to transmit? 
• If the audience remembers one take-home message, what should it be? 
• What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do after I finish speaking? 
• What parts of my message could be confusing and require further explanation?

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for tailoring your speech effectively. Consider the demographics of your audience, their interests, and their expectations. For instance, if you're addressing a group of healthcare professionals, you'll want to use medical terminology and data that resonate with them. Conversely, if your audience is a group of young students, you'd adjust your content to be more relatable to their experiences and interests. 

3. Choose a clear message

Your message should be the central idea that you want your audience to take away from your speech. Let's say you're giving a speech on climate change. Your clear message might be something like, "Individual actions can make a significant impact on mitigating climate change." Throughout your speech, all your points and examples should support this central message, reinforcing it for your audience.

4. Structure your speech

Organizing your speech properly keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your ideas. The introduction should grab your audience's attention and introduce the topic. For example, if you're discussing space exploration, you could start with a fascinating fact about a recent space mission. In the body, you'd present your main points logically, such as the history of space exploration, its scientific significance, and future prospects. Finally, in the conclusion, you'd summarize your key points and reiterate the importance of space exploration in advancing human knowledge.

5. Use engaging content for clarity

Engaging content includes stories, anecdotes, statistics, and examples that illustrate your main points. For instance, if you're giving a speech about the importance of reading, you might share a personal story about how a particular book changed your perspective. You could also include statistics on the benefits of reading, such as improved cognitive abilities and empathy.

6. Maintain clarity and simplicity

It's essential to communicate your ideas clearly. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience. For example, if you're discussing a medical breakthrough with a non-medical audience, explain complex terms in simple, understandable language.

7. Practice and rehearse

Practice is key to delivering a great speech. Rehearse multiple times to refine your delivery, timing, and tone. Consider using a mirror or recording yourself to observe your body language and gestures. For instance, if you're giving a motivational speech, practice your gestures and expressions to convey enthusiasm and confidence.

8. Consider nonverbal communication

Your body language, tone of voice, and gestures should align with your message . If you're delivering a speech on leadership, maintain strong eye contact to convey authority and connection with your audience. A steady pace and varied tone can also enhance your speech's impact.

9. Engage your audience

Engaging your audience keeps them interested and attentive. Encourage interaction by asking thought-provoking questions or sharing relatable anecdotes. If you're giving a speech on teamwork, ask the audience to recall a time when teamwork led to a successful outcome, fostering engagement and connection.

10. Prepare for Q&A

Anticipate potential questions or objections your audience might have and prepare concise, well-informed responses. If you're delivering a speech on a controversial topic, such as healthcare reform, be ready to address common concerns, like the impact on healthcare costs or access to services, during the Q&A session.

By following these steps and incorporating examples that align with your specific speech topic and purpose, you can craft and deliver a compelling and impactful speech that resonates with your audience.

Tools for writing a great speech

There are several helpful tools available for speechwriting, both technological and communication-related. Here are a few examples:

• Word processing software: Tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other word processors provide a user-friendly environment for writing and editing speeches. They offer features like spell-checking, grammar correction, formatting options, and easy revision tracking.
• Presentation software: Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides is useful when creating visual aids to accompany your speech. These tools allow you to create engaging slideshows with text, images, charts, and videos to enhance your presentation.
• Speechwriting Templates: Online platforms or software offer pre-designed templates specifically for speechwriting. These templates provide guidance on structuring your speech and may include prompts for different sections like introductions, main points, and conclusions.
• Rhetorical devices and figures of speech: Rhetorical tools such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism can add impact and persuasion to your speech. Resources like books, websites, or academic papers detailing various rhetorical devices can help you incorporate them effectively.
• Speechwriting apps: Mobile apps designed specifically for speechwriting can be helpful in organizing your thoughts, creating outlines, and composing a speech. These apps often provide features like voice recording, note-taking, and virtual prompts to keep you on track.
• Grammar and style checkers: Online tools or plugins like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor help improve the clarity and readability of your speech by checking for grammar, spelling, and style errors. They provide suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and overall tone.
• Thesaurus and dictionary: Online or offline resources such as thesauruses and dictionaries help expand your vocabulary and find alternative words or phrases to express your ideas more effectively. They can also clarify meanings or provide context for unfamiliar terms.
• Online speechwriting communities: Joining online forums or communities focused on speechwriting can be beneficial for getting feedback, sharing ideas, and learning from experienced speechwriters. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and improve your public speaking skills through collaboration.

Remember, while these tools can assist in the speechwriting process, it's essential to use them thoughtfully and adapt them to your specific needs and style. The most important aspect of speechwriting remains the creativity, authenticity, and connection with your audience that you bring to your speech.

5 tips for writing a speech

Behind every great speech is an excellent idea and a speaker who refined it. But a successful speech is about more than the initial words on the page, and there are a few more things you can do to help it land.

Here are five more tips for writing and practicing your speech:

1. Structure first, write second

If you start the writing process before organizing your thoughts, you may have to re-order, cut, and scrap the sentences you worked hard on. Save yourself some time by using a speech structure, like the one above, to order your talking points first. This can also help you identify unclear points or moments that disrupt your flow.

2. Do your homework

Data strengthens your argument with a scientific edge. Research your topic with an eye for attention-grabbing statistics, or look for findings you can use to support each point. If you’re pitching a product or service, pull information from company metrics that demonstrate past or potential successes. 

Audience members will likely have questions, so learn all talking points inside and out. If you tell investors that your product will provide 12% returns, for example, come prepared with projections that support that statement.

3. Sound like yourself

Memorable speakers have distinct voices. Think of Martin Luther King Jr’s urgent, inspiring timbre or Oprah’s empathetic, personal tone . Establish your voice — one that aligns with your personality and values — and stick with it. If you’re a motivational speaker, keep your tone upbeat to inspire your audience . If you’re the CEO of a startup, try sounding assured but approachable. 

4. Practice

As you practice a speech, you become more confident , gain a better handle on the material, and learn the outline so well that unexpected questions are less likely to trip you up. Practice in front of a colleague or friend for honest feedback about what you could change, and speak in front of the mirror to tweak your nonverbal communication and body language .

5. Remember to breathe

When you’re stressed, you breathe more rapidly . It can be challenging to talk normally when you can’t regulate your breath. Before your presentation, try some mindful breathing exercises so that when the day comes, you already have strategies that will calm you down and remain present . This can also help you control your voice and avoid speaking too quickly.

How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

Ghostwriting a speech requires a unique set of skills, as you're essentially writing a piece that will be delivered by someone else. Here are some tips on how to effectively ghostwrite a speech:

• Understand the speaker's voice and style : Begin by thoroughly understanding the speaker's personality, speaking style, and preferences. This includes their tone, humor, and any personal anecdotes they may want to include.
• Interview the speaker : Have a detailed conversation with the speaker to gather information about their speech's purpose, target audience, key messages, and any specific points they want to emphasize. Ask for personal stories or examples they may want to include.
• Research thoroughly : Research the topic to ensure you have a strong foundation of knowledge. This helps you craft a well-informed and credible speech.
• Create an outline : Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval.
• Write in the speaker's voice : While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style. Use language and phrasing that feel natural to them. If they have a particular way of expressing ideas, incorporate that into the speech.
• Craft a captivating opening : Begin the speech with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a relevant quote, an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question.
• Organize content logically : Ensure the speech flows logically, with each point building on the previous one. Use transitions to guide the audience from one idea to the next smoothly.
• Incorporate engaging stories and examples : Include anecdotes, stories, and real-life examples that illustrate key points and make the speech relatable and memorable.
• Edit and revise : Edit the speech carefully for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure the speech is the right length and aligns with the speaker's time constraints.
• Seek feedback : Share drafts of the speech with the speaker for their feedback and revisions. They may have specific changes or additions they'd like to make.
• Practice delivery : If possible, work with the speaker on their delivery. Practice the speech together, allowing the speaker to become familiar with the content and your writing style.
• Maintain confidentiality : As a ghostwriter, it's essential to respect the confidentiality and anonymity of the work. Do not disclose that you wrote the speech unless you have the speaker's permission to do so.
• Be flexible : Be open to making changes and revisions as per the speaker's preferences. Your goal is to make them look good and effectively convey their message.
• Meet deadlines : Stick to agreed-upon deadlines for drafts and revisions. Punctuality and reliability are essential in ghostwriting.
• Provide support : Support the speaker during their preparation and rehearsal process. This can include helping with cue cards, speech notes, or any other materials they need.

Remember that successful ghostwriting is about capturing the essence of the speaker while delivering a well-structured and engaging speech. Collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to achieving this.

Give your best speech yet

Learn how to make a speech that’ll hold an audience’s attention by structuring your thoughts and practicing frequently. Put the effort into writing and preparing your content, and aim to improve your breathing, eye contact , and body language as you practice. The more you work on your speech, the more confident you’ll become.

The energy you invest in writing an effective speech will help your audience remember and connect to every concept. Remember: some life-changing philosophies have come from good speeches, so give your words a chance to resonate with others. You might even change their thinking.

Understand Yourself Better:

Big 5 Personality Test

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

Use a personal SWOT analysis to discover your strengths and weaknesses

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Navigating the Crossroads

By  Dinuka Gunaratne

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Over the past several weeks, I’ve reflected on what it is to make hard and difficult decisions. As I’ve navigated my life ever since moving to Canada from Sri Lanka as an international student, I’ve confronted many such decisions that have shaped the person I am today. After all, I decided to move across oceans to pursue my education, transition across cities and institutions to advance my career, and navigate complex immigration systems to become a Canadian citizen.

Surely, having made such decisions in the past, an upcoming one concerning the next step in my career should be familiar and easy. But I’ve found myself agonizing over all the ifs, buts and what-ifs surrounding it.

Why Can Decisions Be So Difficult?

As a coach to many graduate students, I regularly listen when they share their stories and the difficult decisions they expect to make in their lives. Those decisions include moving cities and choosing between staying in academe or leaving it, as well as many others. We make many decisions daily—about everything from what we eat for breakfast to the clothes we wear to work. So why do some decisions feel so insurmountable?

Ultimately, what defines a hard choice is not the decision itself but instead how the decision-maker perceives it. The decision could seem especially hard for some of the following reasons:

• The stakes are high for the person making this decision.
• Both choices feel comparable to each other.
• Your head and heart pull you in different directions.
• It brings back memories of past decisions that may not have gone as expected, and fear has set in.

Also, certain decisions can feel more complex not necessarily because the choice between them is complex, but because we as humans are complex creatures. The etymology of the word “decision” provides interesting insight. It comes from the Latin words “de” (off) and “caedere” (cut), meaning to “cut off.” Decisions cut us off from alternative choices and opportunities and the possibility of better future outcomes. Therefore, the act of deciding can feel like a self-inflicted wound that demands us to own the outcome and consequences of our actions.

When confronted with a hard choice, putting it off and procrastinating may feel like an easy alternative option to actually making that choice. When faced with two alternatives, we have the option not to decide and to do nothing. But, in fact, procrastinating on the decision is not refusing to decide or buying more time, but it is actively deciding to remain undecided. After you realize that, you may find it a less attractive option. As research by the American psychologist Thomas Gilovich shows, in the short term, it may feel good to avoid an action that may lead to a poor outcome (an error of commission), but in the long term, you may regret not acting at all (an error of omission).

Advice for Making Difficult Decisions

So how can you best go about making a good decision? You could write a pros and cons list, and maybe the decision will become obvious. You could flip a coin and let the odds be in your favor. Or perhaps you could simply wish on a crystal ball in hopes it will show you the alternative realities.

Of course, it’s usually never that easy. As you navigate decisions in your graduate life and beyond, here are some approaches that will probably be fruitful.

Think beyond the moment. Taking the time to reflect and think about the decision beyond its immediate impact on your life can give you some useful insights. For instance, as I decided to make some of my past career moves, I took the “short-term pain for long-term gain” approach. They included, first, moving to a remote city to take a longer-term contract with a smaller team, where I had a broader scope of responsibility and exposure and, second, turning down a career advancement opportunity in a new city because I wanted to stay close to friends.

At the time, such decisions caused me some discomfort, but they had long-term beneficial impacts on my life and career. In her 2009 book 10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea , American author and business journalist Suzy Welch recommends making a decision based on how you would feel 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years after choosing that path (or avoiding) it. She says that every time she’s been in a situation where no decision would make all parties affected happy, that method has helped guide her in figuring out what choice to make.

Consider the head versus heart. In a head choice, you may see a decision that looks good on all practical accounts and appears to be the right choice on paper. That may allow you the most rational decision-making process. A heart choice will evoke elements connected to your emotions, desires and soul. Often people make choices without careful consideration because those choices feel good at the time and bring an emotional, albeit short-lived, high.

A question to consider is if you could live with the decision if you were to be disappointed. One way you can balance head and heart is to list your options and objectives on paper. You can also create a weighting system where you can assign each objective a value. For example, in deciding between two job offers, you can use salary, benefits, title, workplace culture, location and so forth as your objectives and give each a percentage a weight out of 100. Those scores could probably offer you some insight into probable outcomes. Such a balanced decision on facts, practicalities and heart could lead you down the right path.

Honor the effect upon and influence of others. Many hard decisions you make in life impact not only you as an individual but also potentially many other people. When graduate students make career decisions and relocations, for example, the impact on their spouses and children comes up regularly. As someone who has had limited family responsibilities, I realized my own privilege in having more options for relocation and movement in my career than many of the people around me. Engaging loved ones who potentially could be affected by your decision can provide a meaningful avenue to talk through your thinking and even give you the encouragement you need to make the decision. Many of my family members, colleagues and mentors have been instrumental in helping me make good career and life choices.

Forks in the road where you must decide which path to take will always be a part of life. As we continue to navigate those crossroads, we will discover deep insights into who we are and what we value. As philosopher Ruth Chang shared in a TED talk , big decisions are agonizing because we think about them the wrong way. They are hard not because one choice is wrong and the other is right, or that one is better than the other. Rather, it’s because they are on a par—both equally right or wrong.

This is where we write our own story and exercise what it means to be human. Because when we make these difficult decisions, Chang explains, we have the power to justify them to ourselves and others in ways that make us the unique and distinctive individuals that we are. Which is why the forks in the road are, as she puts it, not a curse but a godsend.

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Speeches > James L. Slaughter > The Blessings of Choice

The Blessings of Choice

James l. slaughter.

July 1, 2014

As important as choices are—such as what to major in, what career path to take, where to live, and where to send the kids to school—the choices you make regarding the type of person you want to be are, in my opinion, more important and will help you make those very important decisions regarding the direction you choose for your life and your family.

We are and will be faced with all types of choices throughout our lives. Each choice we make or action we take carries some type of consequence. The consequence can be positive or negative. A consequence does not always have to be negative; I think we are conditioned to think of consequences as negative. Sometimes consequences appear to be both negative and positive, depending on your point of view.

Sometimes we make choices thinking we are doing good, only to have our good intentions and deeds backfire and make a bad situation worse. Sometimes we immediately regret a decision or choice. Sometimes regret comes later and with someone saying to us, “I told you so.” Other times we may say or do something that we later find out actually inspired or uplifted someone. Sometimes we choose not to make a choice and instead let nature or circumstances unfold as they will. This reminds me of several lines from one of my favorite songs by Rush called “Freewill”:

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill. I will choose a path that’s clear; I will choose freewill.

Choosing Your Path

One of the great blessings we enjoy in this life is the blessing of choice—choosing the path our life will take and, maybe more important, the type of person we want to become.

We have a huge number of directions we can steer our lives in. You can allow others to steer for you and guide you on the path. There are plenty of people who will be more than happy to tell you what you should and should not do. They may even let you pay them for their advice. You can also decide to do whatever you fancy—it is your life, after all, and God has blessed you with agency. Or you can let life happen and just roll with the changes. Or maybe, best yet, you can be proactive and make the choices that best suit you and the direction you want your life to take.

Let me caution you that simply making certain decisions does not guarantee that you will end up exactly where you expect to be. The choice I am talking about is the type of person you want to be, regardless of where your life and vocation take you.

When I was in junior high and high school I was interested in several careers. The first and foremost was to play professional football. The second was to coach football and be a PE teacher. The third and most fleeting was to be a lead singer for an epic hard rock band.

The lead singer career was the first to fade as I realized three facts about myself: (1) I am not a good singer or screamer, (2) I really don’t enjoy being on stage in front of people, and (3) I wasn’t really ready for the superstar lifestyle and all that comes with it.

My poor singing ability was reconfirmed to me some years ago when my ward choir pleaded for male voices. They said any male voice was welcome. I decided to test how serious they were by sitting right behind the ward choir director during sacrament meeting and singing loud enough for her to hear me. This was my way of trying out for the choir. I did this for three straight weeks. The only response I got was a pained smile as the choir director turned to look and see who was making the strange sounds behind her. I received no personal invitation to join the choir.

I haven’t given up singing. I just limit the venues I perform in. My current singing venue is in my old Chevy pickup truck when I crank up the stereo, roll the windows down, and sing along with one of my favorite bands on what you would call the classic rock station.

What happened to my pro football dream? Well, I will be honest: I wasn’t really willing to put in the work and make the necessary sacrifices—plus, in reality, I probably wasn’t ever as good as I thought I was. I did try coaching and teaching PE, and I enjoyed it, but that wasn’t how I would make my living.

All of my vocational dreams fell apart before I left on my mission or soon after I returned from my mission. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my life was destined to lead me through several twists and turns before I found a vocation and a career that suited me.

I struggled to find a major that suited me and later a career that would allow me to be the person I wanted to be and still provide for my family. I am very aware of what it feels like to be unemployed, wondering why no one wants to hire you. I am also aware of how it feels to be underemployed, wondering, “Why is this the only place that wants me?” Was I afraid my life would never get any better than it was? Sure, at times I was.

I want to share with you some of what I believe blessed my life and helped me find my way in this world and continues to help me find my way. At the ripe old age of fifty-one I am still finding my way—mostly because I have not achieved perfection yet and don’t expect to anytime soon. I am just happy to know I am headed in the right direction.

Those Who Have Enriched and Blessed My Life

First, I must acknowledge my parents. Larry and Catherine were good parents and did their best to teach me all the things they thought I should know: how to share, love, work hard, be honest, love God and my Savior, treat others the way I want to be treated, endure hard things, be optimistic, look forward to marriage and a family of my own, stand up for the underdog, appreciate God’s creations, treat a woman, think for myself, serve, clean, cook, do laundry, drive, and not be wasteful—among many other things. My mom was always very good at helping me face consequences. She helped me understand the importance of repenting, apologizing, and asking for forgiveness. She accompanied me to several homes in our neighborhood, where I got to practice repenting.

Next I have to thank and acknowledge my wife. Even though I was taught how to behave, it has been my wife—my soul mate, if you will—who has helped refine me the most. It is through our relationship and her patience and support that I have begun to understand what it means to love someone. I was in love when we first got married—no doubt about that—but now it is so much more. True love and friendship have blossomed through all the struggles we have been through together. I hate to think about where we would be had we quit on each other. When I think of my woman I like to think of a song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Here Comes My Girl”:

And then she looks me in the eye, says, “We gonna last forever.” And man, you know I can’t begin to doubt it, No, because this feels so good and so free and so right. I know we ain’t never goin’ change our minds about it.

Her patience and faith in me have been a great blessing. Having a wife who knows the value of sacrificing wants for what is really important has been key to our family’s well-being.

We were blessed to be able to be involved with our kids through church, school, and sports. My wife had this habit of signing me up to coach when she went to the recreation center to sign the kids up for one of the many sports they played. She signed me up to coach every season, even though I had announced my official retirement from coaching the previous season. She knew better, and now our children are all grown up and I have all these great memories of the extra time I got to spend with my sons and daughters and their friends. I still have young adults stop me occasionally and ask me if I remember them from one of the teams I was able to coach.

I also have to acknowledge my faith and my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love being a Mormon. I have learned so much through my association with this faith. It has helped refine me and guide me and has helped me find a purpose bigger than myself that is eternal in nature. It has taught me to endure to the end and that to love God is to love my fellow beings, that salvation is through the Savior, and that salvation is possible. The plan of salvation, or great plan of happiness, brings me great comfort. I think of all those who have gone on before and who wait on the other side. I love the eternal nature of families. It all comes down to the importance of family. I love my family. They are my greatest inspiration and motivation. I also love how my church has taught me to find strength in the midst of trials and to draw spiritual strength from the trials of our ancestors.

There are many people and experiences that have enriched and blessed my life. Ever since I can remember I have wanted to have an eternal family. I have always instinctively known that the plan of salvation is true doctrine. It is my belief that most people, whether LDS or not, believe they will see their loved ones again after this life. It is my faith and belief in God’s plan of salvation that has helped guide me and will continue to guide my life and the choices I make.

Learning from Life’s Difficult Experiences

I would like to share a few experiences from my early life that helped me develop my testimony and character. When I was about nine years old I suffered from the extreme fear of nothingness. The nothingness I feared was that there is nothing after and outside of this life. I had been taught to pray, so I put prayer into practice. We were living in Crow Agency, Montana, at the time, and it seemed I spent a large part of my time in the back of our family’s Chrysler station wagon (Larry was a Chrysler/Dodge man and loved the big engines in those wagons). In rural Montana a short trip was anywhere between ten and 100 miles. Needless to say, I had lots of time to ponder the great mysteries of life while facing backward in the backseat of the old Safari classic station wagon.

On one particularly dark and ominous night the fear of nothingness got so bad that I felt sick inside. I prayed a silent prayer just to know that God was there and that life after death is real. I felt an almost instant feeling of warmth and assurance that God is there and that His plan of salvation is real. It is hard to describe even now how good I felt then and how good I feel now when I remember that experience.

I grew up on the Crow Indian Reservation and attended a small branch off the reservation in Hardin, Montana. I had always looked forward to becoming a deacon; passing the sacrament seemed like a big deal and a worthy goal. I made it to age twelve and passed off the Articles of Faith, which someone had led me to believe I had to do or I would be stuck in Primary until I did.

I then needed the outfit of a deacon—the white shirt, tie, slacks, and shiny shoes. My parents, especially my mother, were very frugal, and I was growing at rates they found hard to gauge. Often I was outfitted in clothes they predicted I would grow into. So my first Sunday as a deacon I was outfitted in a white shirt with one of my dad’s clip-on ties—Larry loved the convenience of clip-on ties and hadn’t yet had time to teach me to tie a real tie—black shiny shoes, and a pair of black slacks about four sizes too big. I found a belt and strapped those big pants on nice and high, well above my waist, so the cuffs didn’t drag in the snow and ice.

As I was marching up to take my place on the bench in front of the sacrament table, several different members of the branch made jokes about my attire, especially the size of my slacks. By the time I reached the deacon bench, I had lost most of my self-confidence and desire to pass the sacrament. I soldiered up anyway and self-consciously did my deacon duty and passed the sacrament. After sacrament meeting I had just about decided to quit and not come back the next Sunday. What happened next is not miraculous. (And I eventually grew into the pants.) I decided that I couldn’t and wouldn’t let what other people think and say about me keep me from doing what is right for me. I also learned I needed to be a little less sensitive. I know the jokesters who had made fun of me and my big, oversized pants probably thought they were funny and did not mean any harm and would have felt bad had they known how their comments affected me. Now when there is something I know I should do or want to do, I think of that kid in the oversized pants, and I hike my pants up and move ahead.

I probably spent more time as an undergraduate student than I needed to. My wife was very patient with my academic endeavors. I changed my major at least twice before I found something I truly excelled at. I remember that as I was closing in on graduation I was informed that if I wanted to graduate that coming April, I needed to complete a basic math class that was worth zero credits. I had avoided math as much as possible and had thought I was done with it. But I signed up for the class my final semester as an undergraduate at BYU.

I knew I was in trouble as soon as I picked up the textbook at the Bookstore. This class turned out to be one of the most academically challenging experiences I have ever had. I spent many hours in the math lab trying to learn algebra. I wore out one poor tutor. She must have thought there was something seriously wrong with my memory. I faithfully worked with her every week up until the final exam. She was very kind and patient.

I remember leaving the math lab for the last time and heading to the testing center before I lost the knowledge I had gained that day. Amazingly, I did pass the final test and the class. I had such a feeling of relief and jubilation erupt in me that I could hardly stand it. I was going to graduate! I was so grateful I did not have to go home and disappoint my wife. Instead we got to celebrate this achievement together. My grade in the class was not good, but I am probably as proud of that grade as I am of any I have ever earned because I truly earned it.

These experiences are far from the most difficult of my life; however, from these experiences I have learned whom I can trust and lean on when I have difficult situations to endure. I know I can always rely on my Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the influence of the Comforter. I have learned that if you work hard and have faith, God puts people in your life (like a math tutor) to help you accomplish what may seem improbable. I also have learned that it is important to forgive and be grateful and that when things are tough, I can hike up my pants and move forward, whether I look good doing it or not.

Deciding Who You Will Be

I began my remarks talking about choices. As important as choices are—such as what to major in, what career path to take, where to live, and where to send the kids to school—the choices you make regarding the type of person you want to be are, in my opinion, more important and will help you make those very important decisions regarding the direction you choose for your life and your family. As you stay close to the Lord, it may at times seem that as much as you want one path, you will feel inspired and guided—pushed—in another direction.

If you would like, you can take some time and think about the type of person you want to be from now through eternity. Deciding what kind of person you want to be does not eliminate difficult decisions or make you perfect, but I believe it will help you to make better choices and find peace of mind. What characteristics and attributes are important to you? Personal integrity, honesty, time with family, kindness, patience, perseverance, work ethic, frugality, service, respect for others, charity?

Anything good or worthwhile takes time, practice, and perseverance. The temptation to be less than you know you can be is always lurking and ready to present itself to you as an opportunity for personal gain or pleasure. Walking away from temptation—even when no one would know—and being true to yourself and God is a test passed. You and I will continue to take on many tests of our character and resolve. Often the pressure to be less will come from unexpected sources, such as desperate friends and family unwilling to accept consequences. Failing a test is not the end of the world. Failing to learn from that test could be.

When I am dealing with things that are physically, mentally, or spiritually hard, I like to recite scriptures in my mind to help remind me that God is mindful of me. Here are three of my favorite scriptures that I like to recite during difficult or challenging times:

And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God. [D&C 14:7]

Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me. [Mosiah 26:30]

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. [Philippians 4:13]

Our ability to endure and continue to repent and improve is a blessing that is within each of our abilities and our grasp. We have so many great promises from God in the scriptures—promises we can count on if we are willing to reach out to God. I hope we can all be happy with who we are and who we are becoming. I like “me,” and I hope to like myself even better as I become a better version of me.

Life is a journey, and I hope you enjoy it. May God bless you in all you do. God does live, and He is mindful of each of us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

© Brigham Young University. All rights reserved.

James L. Slaughter was BYU chaplain and assistant dean of students when this devotional address was given on 1 July 2014.

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10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills

Few are immune to the fear of public speaking. Marjorie North offers 10 tips for speakers to calm the nerves and deliverable memorable orations.

Marjorie North

Snakes? Fine. Flying? No problem. Public speaking? Yikes! Just thinking about public speaking — routinely described as one of the greatest (and most common) fears — can make your palms sweat. But there are many ways to tackle this anxiety and learn to deliver a memorable speech.

In part one of this series,  Mastering the Basics of Communication , I shared strategies to improve how you communicate. In part two, How to Communicate More Effectively in the Workplace , I examined how to apply these techniques as you interact with colleagues and supervisors in the workplace. For the third and final part of this series, I’m providing you with public speaking tips that will help reduce your anxiety, dispel myths, and improve your performance.

Here Are My 10 Tips for Public Speaking:

1. nervousness is normal. practice and prepare.

All people feel some physiological reactions like pounding hearts and trembling hands. Do not associate these feelings with the sense that you will perform poorly or make a fool of yourself. Some nerves are good. The adrenaline rush that makes you sweat also makes you more alert and ready to give your best performance.

The best way to overcome anxiety is to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Take the time to go over your notes several times. Once you have become comfortable with the material, practice — a lot. Videotape yourself, or get a friend to critique your performance.

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2. Know Your Audience. Your Speech Is About Them, Not You.

Before you begin to craft your message, consider who the message is intended for. Learn as much about your listeners as you can. This will help you determine your choice of words, level of information, organization pattern, and motivational statement.

3. Organize Your Material in the Most Effective Manner to Attain Your Purpose.

Create the framework for your speech. Write down the topic, general purpose, specific purpose, central idea, and main points. Make sure to grab the audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds.

4. Watch for Feedback and Adapt to It.

Keep the focus on the audience. Gauge their reactions, adjust your message, and stay flexible. Delivering a canned speech will guarantee that you lose the attention of or confuse even the most devoted listeners.

5. Let Your Personality Come Through.

Be yourself, don’t become a talking head — in any type of communication. You will establish better credibility if your personality shines through, and your audience will trust what you have to say if they can see you as a real person.

6. Use Humor, Tell Stories, and Use Effective Language.

Inject a funny anecdote in your presentation, and you will certainly grab your audience’s attention. Audiences generally like a personal touch in a speech. A story can provide that.

7. Don’t Read Unless You Have to. Work from an Outline.

Reading from a script or slide fractures the interpersonal connection. By maintaining eye contact with the audience, you keep the focus on yourself and your message. A brief outline can serve to jog your memory and keep you on task.

8. Use Your Voice and Hands Effectively. Omit Nervous Gestures.

Nonverbal communication carries most of the message. Good delivery does not call attention to itself, but instead conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly and without distraction.

9. Grab Attention at the Beginning, and Close with a Dynamic End.

Do you enjoy hearing a speech start with “Today I’m going to talk to you about X”? Most people don’t. Instead, use a startling statistic, an interesting anecdote, or concise quotation. Conclude your speech with a summary and a strong statement that your audience is sure to remember.

10. Use Audiovisual Aids Wisely.

Too many can break the direct connection to the audience, so use them sparingly. They should enhance or clarify your content, or capture and maintain your audience’s attention.

Practice Does Not Make Perfect

Good communication is never perfect, and nobody expects you to be perfect. However, putting in the requisite time to prepare will help you deliver a better speech. You may not be able to shake your nerves entirely, but you can learn to minimize them.

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North is a consultant for political candidates, physicians, and lawyers, and runs a private practice specializing in public speaking, and executive communication skills. Previously, she was the clinical director in the department of speech and language pathology and audiology at Northeastern University.

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Career Advice from Wildly Successful People

• Amantha Imber

#1 Not all feedback is created equal.

Great job advice can be transformative. It can set you on a whole new trajectory, land you a new role, or even prompt you to make a big change. Through her podcast, Amantha Imber has had the opportunity to interview and learn from some of the most successful business leaders, musicians, writers, entrepreneurs, chefs, and entertainers. Here is some advice from them:

• Not all feedback is created equal. Take a moment to reflect on the feedback giver. Ask yourself: Do they have your best interests at heart? Do they have experience or expertise in the subject they have given you feedback on? 
• Flirt with your future self. It’s normal to get urges to try out different roles or career paths. But instead of doing something dramatic, think about small experiments you can do in your current role that can help you understand your choices better.
• Schedule a life check-up. A life check-up involves asking yourself how you’re tracking with your career and the job you are in. It ensures that you’re not blindly following a career path you’re going to regret years down the track.
• Do your current job well — even the boring bits. Every single job is a mix of good bits and bad. Do them all well to stand out from the pack.

I once sat across from a boss and listened as he gave me a brutally honest performance review. At the time, I was working as a consumer psychologist for a multi-national advertising agency. My job involved advising big brands on how to best persuade their customers to engage with their products and services.

• Dr Amantha Imber is the author of Time Wise and the host of How I Work , a podcast about the habits and rituals of the world’s most successful people. For more tips and tricks, check out Amantha’s musings at One Percent Better .

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How to write a good speech in 7 steps

By:  Susan Dugdale  

- an easily followed format for writing a great speech

Did you know writing a speech doesn't have be an anxious, nail biting experience?

Unsure? Don't be.

You may have lived with the idea you were never good with words for a long time. Or perhaps giving speeches at school brought you out in cold sweats.

However learning how to write a speech is relatively straight forward when you learn to write out loud.

And that's the journey I am offering to take you on: step by step.

To learn quickly, go slow

Take all the time you need. This speech format has 7 steps, each building on the next.

Walk, rather than run, your way through all of them. Don't be tempted to rush. Familiarize yourself with the ideas. Try them out.

I know there are well-advertised short cuts and promises of 'write a speech in 5 minutes'. However in reality they only truly work for somebody who already has the basic foundations of speech writing in place.

The foundation of good speech writing 

These steps are the backbone of sound speech preparation. Learn and follow them well at the outset and yes, given more experience and practice you could probably flick something together quickly. Like any skill, the more it's used, the easier it gets.

In the meantime...

Step 1: Begin with a speech overview or outline

Are you in a hurry? Without time to read a whole page? Grab ... The Quick How to Write a Speech Checklist And come back to get the details later.

• WHO you are writing your speech for (your target audience)
• WHY you are preparing this speech. What's the main purpose of your speech? Is it to inform or tell your audience about something? To teach them a new skill or demonstrate something? To persuade or to entertain? (See 4 types of speeches: informative, demonstrative, persuasive and special occasion or entertaining for more.) What do you want them to think, feel or do as a result of listening the speech?
• WHAT your speech is going to be about (its topic) - You'll want to have thought through your main points and have ranked them in order of importance. And have sorted the supporting research you need to make those points effectively.
• HOW much time you have for your speech eg. 3 minutes, 5 minutes... The amount of time you've been allocated dictates how much content you need. If you're unsure check this page: how many words per minute in a speech: a quick reference guide . You'll find estimates of the number of words required for 1 - 10 minute speeches by slow, medium and fast talkers.

Use an outline

The best way to make sure you deliver a perfect speech is to start by carefully completing a speech outline covering the essentials: WHO, WHY, WHAT and HOW.

Beginning to write without thinking your speech through is a bit like heading off on a journey not knowing why you're traveling or where you're going to end up. You can find yourself lost in a deep, dark, murky muddle of ideas very quickly!

Pulling together a speech overview or outline is a much safer option. It's the map you'll follow to get where you want to go.

Get a blank speech outline template to complete

Click the link to find out a whole lot more about preparing a speech outline . ☺ You'll also find a free printable blank speech outline template.  I recommend using it!

Understanding speech construction

Before you begin to write, using your completed outline as a guide, let's briefly look at what you're aiming to prepare.

• an opening or introduction
• the body where the bulk of the information is given
• and an ending (or summary).

Imagine your speech as a sandwich

If you think of a speech as a sandwich you'll get the idea.

The opening and ending are the slices of bread holding the filling (the major points or the body of your speech) together.

You can build yourself a simple sandwich with one filling (one big idea) or you could go gourmet and add up to three or, even five. The choice is yours.

But whatever you choose to serve, as a good cook, you need to consider who is going to eat it! And that's your audience.

So let's find out who they are before we do anything else. 

Step 2: Know who you are talking to

Understanding your audience.

Did you know a  good speech is never written from the speaker's point of view?  ( If you need to know more about why check out this page on  building rapport .)

Begin with the most important idea/point on your outline.

Consider HOW you can explain (show, tell) that to your audience in the most effective way for them to easily understand it.   

Writing from the audience's point of view

To help you write from an audience point of view, it's a good idea to identify either a real person or the type of person who is most likely to be listening to you.

Make sure you select someone who represents the "majority" of the people who will be in your audience. That is they are neither struggling to comprehend you at the bottom of your scale or light-years ahead at the top.

Now imagine they are sitting next to you eagerly waiting to hear what you're going to say. Give them a name, for example, Joe, to help make them real.

Ask yourself

• How do I need to tailor my information to meet Joe's needs? For example, do you tell personal stories to illustrate your main points? Absolutely! Yes. This is a very powerful technique. (Click storytelling in speeches to find out more.)
• What type or level of language is right for Joe as well as my topic? For example if I use jargon (activity, industry or profession specific vocabulary) will it be understood?

Step 3: Writing as you speak

Writing oral language.

Write down what you want to say about your first main point as if you were talking directly to Joe.

If it helps, say it all out loud before you write it down and/or record it.

Use the information below as a guide

(Click to download The Characteristics of Spoken Language  as a pdf.) 

You do not have to write absolutely everything you're going to say down * but you do need to write down, or outline, the sequence of ideas to ensure they are logical and easily followed.

Remember too, to explain or illustrate your point with examples from your research. 

( * Tip: If this is your first speech the safety net of having everything written down could be just what you need. It's easier to recover from a patch of jitters when you have a word by word manuscript than if you have either none, or a bare outline. Your call!)

Step 4: Checking tone and language

The focus of this step is re-working what you've done in Step 2 and 3.

You identified who you were talking to (Step 2) and in Step 3, wrote up your first main point.  Is it right? Have you made yourself clear?  Check it.

How well you complete this step depends on how well you understand the needs of the people who are going to listen to your speech.

Please do not assume because you know what you're talking about the person (Joe) you've chosen to represent your audience will too. Joe is not a mind-reader!

How to check what you've prepared

• Check the "tone" of your language . Is it right for the occasion, subject matter and your audience?
• Check the length of your sentences. You need short sentences. If they're too long or complicated you risk losing your listeners.

Check for jargon too. These are industry, activity or group exclusive words.

For instance take the phrase: authentic learning . This comes from teaching and refers to connecting lessons to the daily life of students. Authentic learning is learning that is relevant and meaningful for students. If you're not a teacher you may not understand the phrase.

The use of any vocabulary requiring insider knowledge needs to be thought through from the audience perspective. Jargon can close people out.

• Read what you've written out loud. If it flows naturally, in a logical manner, continue the process with your next main idea. If it doesn't, rework.

We use whole sentences and part ones, and we mix them up with asides or appeals e.g. "Did you get that? Of course you did. Right...Let's move it along. I was saying ..."

Click for more about the differences between spoken and written language .

And now repeat the process

Repeat this process for the remainder of your main ideas.

Because you've done the first one carefully, the rest should follow fairly easily.

Step 5: Use transitions

Providing links or transitions between main ideas.

Between each of your main ideas you need to provide a bridge or pathway for your audience. The clearer the pathway or bridge, the easier it is for them to make the transition from one idea to the next.

If your speech contains more than three main ideas and each is building on the last, then consider using a "catch-up" or summary as part of your transitions.

Is your speech being evaluated? Find out exactly what aspects you're being assessed on using this standard speech evaluation form

Link/transition examples

A link can be as simple as:

"We've explored one scenario for the ending of Block Buster 111, but let's consider another. This time..."

What follows this transition is the introduction of Main Idea Two.

Here's a summarizing link/transition example:

"We've ended Blockbuster 111 four ways so far. In the first, everybody died. In the second, everybody died BUT their ghosts remained to haunt the area. In the third, one villain died. His partner reformed and after a fight-out with the hero, they both strode off into the sunset, friends forever. In the fourth, the hero dies in a major battle but is reborn sometime in the future.

And now what about one more? What if nobody died? The fifth possibility..."

Go back through your main ideas checking the links. Remember Joe as you go. Try each transition or link out loud and really listen to yourself. Is it obvious? Easily followed?

Keep them if they are clear and concise.

For more about transitions (with examples) see Andrew Dlugan's excellent article, Speech Transitions: Magical words and Phrases .

Step 6: The end of your speech

The ideal ending is highly memorable . You want it to live on in the minds of your listeners long after your speech is finished. Often it combines a call to action with a summary of major points.

Example speech endings

Example 1: The desired outcome of a speech persuading people to vote for you in an upcoming election is that they get out there on voting day and do so. You can help that outcome along by calling them to register their support by signing a prepared pledge statement as they leave.

"We're agreed we want change. You can help us give it to you by signing this pledge statement as you leave. Be part of the change you want to see!

Example 2: The desired outcome is increased sales figures. The call to action is made urgent with the introduction of time specific incentives.

"You have three weeks from the time you leave this hall to make that dream family holiday in New Zealand yours. Can you do it? Will you do it? The kids will love it. Your wife will love it. Do it now!"

How to figure out the right call to action

A clue for working out what the most appropriate call to action might be, is to go back to your original purpose for giving the speech.

• Was it to motivate or inspire?
• Was it to persuade to a particular point of view?
• Was it to share specialist information?
• Was it to celebrate a person, a place, time or event?

Ask yourself what you want people to do as a result of having listened to your speech.

For more about ending speeches

Visit this page for more about how to end a speech effectively . You'll find two additional types of speech endings with examples.

Write and test

Write your ending and test it out loud. Try it out on a friend, or two. Is it good? Does it work?

Step 7: The introduction

Once you've got the filling (main ideas) the linking and the ending in place, it's time to focus on the introduction.

The introduction comes last as it's the most important part of your speech. This is the bit that either has people sitting up alert or slumped and waiting for you to end. It's the tone setter!

What makes a great speech opening?

Ideally you want an opening that makes listening to you the only thing the 'Joes' in the audience want to do.

You want them to forget they're hungry or that their chair is hard or that their bills need paying.

The way to do that is to capture their interest straight away. You do this with a "hook".

Hooks to catch your audience's attention

Hooks come in as many forms as there are speeches and audiences. Your task is work out what specific hook is needed to catch your audience.

Go back to the purpose. Why are you giving this speech?

Once you have your answer, consider your call to action. What do you want the audience to do, and, or take away, as a result of listening to you?

Next think about the imaginary or real person you wrote for when you were focusing on your main ideas.

Choosing the best hook

• Is it humor?
• Would shock tactics work?
• Is it a rhetorical question?
• Is it formality or informality?
• Is it an outline or overview of what you're going to cover, including the call to action?
• Or is it a mix of all these elements?

A hook example

Here's an example from a fictional political speech. The speaker is lobbying for votes. His audience are predominately workers whose future's are not secure.

"How's your imagination this morning? Good? (Pause for response from audience) Great, I'm glad. Because we're going to put it to work starting right now.

I want you to see your future. What does it look like? Are you happy? Is everything as you want it to be? No? Let's change that. We could do it. And we could do it today.

At the end of this speech you're going to be given the opportunity to change your world, for a better one ...

No, I'm not a magician. Or a simpleton with big ideas and precious little commonsense. I'm an ordinary man, just like you. And I have a plan to share!"

And then our speaker is off into his main points supported by examples. The end, which he has already foreshadowed in his opening, is the call to vote for him.

Prepare several hooks

Experiment with several openings until you've found the one that serves your audience, your subject matter and your purpose best.

For many more examples of speech openings go to: how to write a speech introduction . You'll find 12 of the very best ways to start a speech.

That completes the initial seven steps towards writing your speech. If you've followed them all the way through, congratulations, you now have the text of your speech!

Although you might have the words, you're still a couple of steps away from being ready to deliver them. Both of them are essential if you want the very best outcome possible. They are below. Please take them.

Step 8: Checking content and timing

This step pulls everything together.

Check once, check twice, check three times & then once more!

Go through your speech really carefully.

On the first read through check you've got your main points in their correct order with supporting material, plus an effective introduction and ending.

On the second read through check the linking passages or transitions making sure they are clear and easily followed.

On the third reading check your sentence structure, language use and tone.

Double, triple check the timing

Now go though once more.

This time read it aloud slowly and time yourself.

If it's too long for the time allowance you've been given make the necessary cuts.

Start by looking at your examples rather than the main ideas themselves. If you've used several examples to illustrate one principal idea, cut the least important out.

Also look to see if you've repeated yourself unnecessarily or, gone off track. If it's not relevant, cut it.

Repeat the process, condensing until your speech fits the required length, preferably coming in just under your time limit.

You can also find out how approximately long it will take you to say the words you have by using this very handy words to minutes converter . It's an excellent tool, one I frequently use. While it can't give you a precise time, it does provide a reasonable estimate.

Step 9: Rehearsing your speech

And NOW you are finished with writing the speech, and are ready for REHEARSAL .

Please don't be tempted to skip this step. It is not an extra thrown in for good measure. It's essential.

The "not-so-secret" secret of successful speeches combines good writing with practice, practice and then, practicing some more.

Go to how to practice public speaking and you'll find rehearsal techniques and suggestions to boost your speech delivery from ordinary to extraordinary.

The Quick How to Write a Speech Checklist

Before you begin writing you need:.

• Your speech OUTLINE with your main ideas ranked in the order you're going to present them. (If you haven't done one complete this 4 step sample speech outline . It will make the writing process much easier.)
• Your RESEARCH
• You also need to know WHO you're speaking to, the PURPOSE of the speech and HOW long you're speaking for

The basic format

• the body where you present your main ideas

Split your time allowance so that you spend approximately 70% on the body and 15% each on the introduction and ending.

How to write the speech

• Write your main ideas out incorporating your examples and research
• Link them together making sure each flows in a smooth, logical progression
• Write your ending, summarizing your main ideas briefly and end with a call for action
• Write your introduction considering the 'hook' you're going to use to get your audience listening
• An often quoted saying to explain the process is: Tell them what you're going to tell them (Introduction) Tell them (Body of your speech - the main ideas plus examples) Tell them what you told them (The ending)

TEST before presenting. Read aloud several times to check the flow of material, the suitability of language and the timing.

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15 TED TALKS TO INSPIRE CAREER GROWTH

Are you looking for the job of your dreams, or do you want to get projects and plans off the ground? It is not news to anyone that it is possible to find several sources that help in the direction of these goals on the internet. Many TED talks are a good source of inspiration to take small steps towards a better life.

So, whether you are a young professional looking to set your goals or someone who is looking to motivate your routine, it is very likely that a TED talk will help. So, read on and watch yourself being inspired to improve your career. Don’t believe it?

15 TED TALKS TO INSPIRE CAREER GROWTH

1. the best career path isn’t always a straight line.

Most people assume that growth in the corporate ladder is just that, a straight ladder. Generations before ours would spend years and decades in the same company, doing the same exact job line or specialty. I loved this Ted Talk in particular because my career has been exactly like they described – a squiggle.

Started with a major in IT and Telecoms Engineering, moved on to project management and customer service, then to commercial and marketing, credit and customer finance, and at the moment of this writing, general management. Those who started in IT with me, and remain in IT, are currently team leaders, supervisors, and IT/Software specialists.

To have a squiggle career path, a person generally needs to be curious, ready to learn and adapt, and change perspectives quickly. What are the career possibilities, rather than what job comes next? That’s the key question here.

Career development consultants Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper are the experts who shared this talk, and you can watch it/learn it here .

2. How to make stress your friend 

3. how to speak in a way that people want to hear .

Have you ever felt as if no one was listening when you spoke? Julian Treasure, president of The Sound Agency, a company that advises global businesses on the use of sound, is here to help. In this TED Talk, the sound expert demonstrates how to speak powerfully – teaching everything from vocal exercises to tips on how to communicate with empathy.

4. The danger of a single story 

5. success, failure, and the drive to keep creating .

You most likely know the book – which became a movie – “Eat, Pray, Love ,” but you must not know that its author was a waitress devastated by rejection letters. In this talk, Elizabeth Gilbert says that even in the wake of success, she still strongly identified with the person she once was. 

With a breakthrough, Elizabeth reflects on how success can be just as confusing as a failure and offers a challenging but straightforward way to keep going, regardless of the results.

 6. Build a tower, build a team 

Watch it here .

 7. Listening to Shame

There is a very high probability that you already know Brené Brown – if not, check out an article about her here. In this talk, she explores what can happen when people confront their shame.

 An expert in vulnerability, courage, and empathy, she also talks about shame, which she says is a silent epidemic and the secret behind various forms of deviant behavior.

 8. What is a good life made of? Lessons from the most extended study on happiness

In this talk, he shares three important lessons learned from the study and some ancient practical knowledge on building a long and fulfilling life.

9. All It Takes is 10 Mindful Minutes 

 10. a guerrilla gardener in south central los angeles .

 Known as the gangster gardener, he’s the phrase you may have heard around : “planting your food is like printing your own money.” Why? For fun, rebellion, beauty, an alternative to fast food, and to show that fresh food should be accessible to everyone.

11. How do great leaders inspire action? 

We’ve already talked about Simon Sinek, but it’s possible to watch one of his most popular lectures. Both contents are about a simple but powerful model for inspiring leadership based on a golden circle and the question “Why?”. 

 12. How to take control of your free time 

There are 168 hours each week. How to find time for what matters most? Time management expert Laura Vanderkam studies how busy people lead their lives. According to her, many of us drastically overestimate our commitments each week, while we underestimate the time we have for ourselves. 

13. My journey from soldier to actor 

This is not an article about Star Wars leadership or any fictional work. But, yes, there is a TED talk with actor Adam Driver, and it can be interesting for anyone looking for a new path. After all, before starring in the franchise, he was a United States Marine in the First Division. 

Driver tells how he became a Marine and discusses the transition from soldier to acting. In addition, he talks about “Arts in the Armed Forces,” a non-profit organization that brings theater to the US military that he created. “Self-expression is as valuable a tool as a rifle on your shoulder,” says Driver.

14. Why doesn’t the best hire have the perfect resume? 

15. how to find a job you love .

Scott Dinsmore quit a job that made him unhappy and spent the next four years wondering how to find work that gave him joy and meaning. After researching what thousands of employees wanted out of life, he founded the organization Live Your Legend. He shares what he’s learned about finding what’s important to you and getting to work in this talk.

Why invest in Leadership Training? Is it even Worth it?

Career planning and stages by age: from your 20s to 70s, what makes a good presentation for a job interview 7 tips.

TED Talks to help you work smarter

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Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog

What Causes People to Be Successful in Their Careers? Part IV: Effective Speech Making—Word Choice, Style, and Language Sophistication

• Post author: Claude L. Kordus
• Post published: August 3, 2010
• Post category: Legal Practice
• Post comments: 4 Comments

Throughout these blogs, we have been asking the question: What causes people to be successful in their careers? The answer we provided was the achievement of people skills. We showed evidence of this position through research from leading universities. This research showed that much more than half of job success comes from people skills. We also noted that much of what we call people skills is effective communication.

Communication as a Premier People Skill

In our first blog , we used the model developed by Robert Bolton in People Skills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts to show that certain attitudes support a person’s successful efforts at effective communication, attitudes that produce good relationships before formal communication even starts. These attitudes are genuineness, respect, and empathy. [1] We will refer to this paradigm as the “Bolton Model.”  

The following is a visualization of Bolton’s model:

In efforts to apply these qualities, they appear as a blend, an overlapping: the way we participate in society, in our family, in our social network, and in our workplace.

To make clear the meaning of these words, we cite some approximate equivalents:

In the second blog , Part II, we examined the art of listening as a starting point for our examination of effective communication, with a regular circling back to those three essential attitudes of genuineness, respect, and empathy which support the person’s credibility with an audience of one or one hundred. Listening represents a learnable skill supporting the three attitudes.

In our third blog , Part III, we examined the challenge of effective speech making through a variety of topics developed from the personal experiences of the writer and from reliable sources, including Aristotle from his On Rhetoric .

We now turn to the subject of the fourth blog: word choice, style, and language sophistication, which, taken as a whole, covers the subject of writing the speech. Many of us were taught in speech courses to prepare a detailed outline with information supporting our main topics and speak extemporaneously. This approach was said to be the most natural, causing us to link with our audience more effectively. This model may be useful for certain speech situations, but if a person has to prepare for an important speech, which goes to the reputation of the speaker, it’s always best to write out the speech word for word. I’m not recommending reading the speech, for this is the most difficult approach to speech making. But, if one writes out a speech and then practices extensively from the written speech, the words come fluently when one actually delivers the speech from an outline. It can be lively and direct.

Choice of Words

Words are vital to our own thinking process. Until we can express a thought in words, it is useless to us. Getting the right words is equivalent to “Hey, I have a really great idea.”

Being an excellent communicator means that we can convert our ideas into communication symbol systems, words, spoken or written, body language and facial expressions, speech delivery, all supporting our verbal processes. Not only do experts believe this, based on social science research, but we know it based on our own introspection. We know that to communicate effectively, accurately, and clearly, we have to be able to manipulate words as symbols.

As with so much of human communication, the cognitive base for word selection and word processing into larger chunks such as phrases, clauses, and sentences represents a vast reservoir of conscious and subconscious ideas. So, to uncover some of the widely acknowledged truths about speech writing, we turn to the subjects of word choice, style, and language sophistication.

Word Choice

Create Mood with Language

In our earlier blog, we pointed out that word choice determined the overall mood of a communication, along with other symbol systems such as body language, facial expressions, and voice. Two dimensions of language that greatly influence mood are positive vs. negative language and formal vs. informal language [2] :

POSITIVE VS. NEGATIVE TONE

FORMAL VS. INFORMAL TONE

Eliminate Clutter

Our speech is often filled with clutter that creates an adverse effect on our speech efforts in a number of ways:

• Clutter words increase the number of words per sentence, making audience attention more difficult.
• Clutter words are often empty words, husks containing no verbal information, making it easier for the audience to tune out.
• Clutter words can cause the speaker to sound shifty: What’s the speaker trying to hide?

Some examples follow [3] :

Reduce Elegant Language

Do you want to sound stuffy, pompous, and arrogant — and just a little ridiculous besides? Just use elegant language throughout your speech. Sometimes one might use one of those Latinized words for variety or specific meaning. Too much is all frosting and no cake. Avoiding elegant language will improve your ethos , your credibility. Examples of the ineffective (elegant language) and effective (down home, believable) follow [4] :

Use Transitions Liberally

A well-written speech consists of a number of paragraphs supporting a main element of the speech. For understanding, the audience requires transition words as signals that the amplification of a main topic is changing direction. Some examples follow [5] :

The transition may establish contrast :

however            although            conversely

but                        nevertheless            on the other hand

The transition may establish comparison :

similarly            likewise

The transition may establish example :

for example            for instance            specifically

The transition may establish addition :

also            besides

in addition

The transition may establish result :

as a result            therefore            consequently            so

The transition may establish time :

now                        meanwhile            later                        after

The transition may establish sequence :

first                        second                        third

then                        next                        finally

Streamline Prepositional Phrases

A preposition is a word that combines with a noun or pronoun and shows a relationship with another sentence element.

PREPOSITIONS

direction:           to, into, across, toward location:            at, in, on, over, under, beside, by, among, through, between time:                    before, after, during, until, since position:            for, against, with, without, of

Prepositions often cause wordiness. You can often eliminate the wordiness by inverting the phrase. Sometimes you need to change the word to reflect the new construction. [6]

Avoid Buzzwords

Technically speaking, buzzwords are not jargon. Jargon generally represents the technical terminology of a particular profession or line of work, such as legalese. One should avoid using jargon except with those who use the same jargon. But buzzwords, clearly related to jargon but not the same, for most experienced writers and speakers are a difficult sort of barrier to meaning. Buzzwords are the argot of a particular organization that the writer or speaker is immersed in. Some frequently used buzzwords and their meanings include:

strategic alliance:            informal partnership

downsized:                        fired

paradigm:                        a pattern that is used to get things done

Just as with jargon, such language can be appropriate for a specific audience, but for the general audience — no. One can object to this kind of language for the general audience on the grounds that such language is usually vague and those who use it don’t really know what it means in specific circumstances.

Use Positive Words

Words used to communicate, to deliver speeches, that convey negativity are processed by the brain differently than positive words. Neuroscience has shown that the message the rational brain ultimately receives — and it receives the message more slowly with negative words than positive words — is that the speaker who uses a lot of negative words is destined to be a failure. On the other hand, when a speaker uses positive words, enthusiasm, confidence, and “can do,” these are all processed positively by the listener’s brain. Following are two lists, one titled “Avoid These Words” and the other titled “Use These Words,” that can help the speech writer use the force of positive words in a speech script [7] :

The words on the left-hand column convey the message of failure, while the words in the right-hand column convey optimism.

In addition, differences in effectiveness exist between words that reflect “partnership” and words that reflect divisiveness. Following are two columns, the one presenting divisive words and the other presenting positive words [8] :

The writers Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, Ph.D., and Mark Mazzarella indicate in their book Put Your Best Foot Forward that they have sat in on hundreds of meetings between lawyers and clients, and they see some lawyers who focus on “problem” issues and others who focus on joint efforts to overcome obstacles. They conclude, “Those who project a solution and team-centered approach invariably instill confidence and trust.” [9]

Avoid Gender Speech Communication

The message has been out for a long time that many individuals and many women’s groups believe that language should be inclusive. Following are some examples that illuminate this point [10] :

A speaker should not open up his or her speech situation to embarrassing questions and criticisms concerning sexist language.

Style has many meanings among academics who study and teach the subject in departments of literature, rhetoric, communication, linguistics, law, business, and others. No one owns “style.” For our purposes, and favoring the KISS principle, we will say simply that style is the way something is said or written. Style covers word choice, but style is so much more than word choice. It covers all the ways words can be put together to achieve the speaker’s purpose. The subject is so vast that we can cover it only in outline.

How Prose for Speaking Varies from Prose for Writing

Following are twenty-five ways spoken effective prose and written effective prose vary. Effective oral prose incorporates [11] :

• more personal pronouns
• more variety in kinds of sentences
• more variety in sentence lengths
• more simple sentences
• more sentence fragments
• many more rhetorical questions
• more repetition of words, phrases, and sentences
• more monosyllabic words
• more contractions
• more interjections
• more stories and anecdotes
• more connotative than denotative words
• more euphony
• more figurative language
• more direct quotation
• more familiar words
• more active voice than passive voice
• more clear transitions
• more concrete language than abstract
• more informal language
• more personal language: “I,” “you,” “we”
• less jargon (definite terms of art)
• more words rather than less to explain a topic
• fewer points (remember the “rule of three” from Blog III)
• and, of course, body language, gestures, facial expressions, and voice

Let me end this section with a nod to three approaches I particularly like for speech giving.

Parallelism

People in an audience (and readers as well) get the message more easily if elements are presented in parallel form:

Using parallel structure for lists, phrases, clauses, sentences, and paragraphs causes audiences and readers to think and feel that the message sender is a polished speaker/writer.

Favor Active Voice

Active voice is superior to passive voice for a variety of reasons:

• Active voice usually requires fewer words.
• Often the doer of an action is not mentioned in passive voice.
• Passive voice reverses the normal subject-verb-object sentence order.

Some examples are [12] :

Sometimes, however, the passive is preferred if the doer is to be hidden or for variety.

Avoid Long Sentences

Long sentences violate Aristotle’s most fundamental rule of style: clarity. This point is extensively developed in On Rhetoric . An example of the clarifying power of shorter sentences follows [13] :

Leadership—whether on the battlefield or in another area, such as politics or business—can take place either by example or command, and Alexander the Great, renowned in both history and legend, is a good example of a military leader who led by both command and personal example, whereas Gandhi and Mother Teresa, both famous for their devotion to great causes, provide instances of people leading primarily by the power of inspiring personal example.

Leadership can take place either by example or command. Alexander the Great is an example of a military leader who did both. Gandhi and Mother Teresa, on the other hand, led primarily by the power of inspiring personal example.

We can see, then, how cutting long sentences and working on brevity makes a discourse more listener-friendly.

Language Sophistication

Certainly, having command of all of the style tools we just covered can be said to be language sophistication. But my meaning here goes beyond command of language tools; here I am taking the subject to the area of deep meaning: it would include connotation and other topics about what represents meaning subconsciously.

The Difference Between Denotative and Connotative Meaning

This device allows the speaker or writer to influence without being noticed. Denotative meaning is what dictionaries tell us that a word means. Connotative meaning concerns the associations, conceptual, visual, and emotional, that all of us carry around in our heads concerning a certain word or words. When we compose a speech, we should always think about the words we are using, both the literal meaning and the suggestive meaning. Here are a few examples: [xiv]

What Do We Mean by Meaning?

I wish to explore just one other idea about deep language: “What you say is what you personally think.” This line of thinking started with Alfred Korzybski, who wrote, in 1933, Science and Sanity . The movement he started is called general semantics, and, in its simplest terms, he posited these theories:

• Meanings are not in words but in people.
• No two brains contain exactly the same meaning for any word, expression, or concept.
• Therefore, there can be no universal meaning of any verbal map.
• Language both expresses our thoughts and creates our thoughts.
• Language both expresses community and creates community.
• We are such efficient users of our language that we’re seldom conscious that our verbal maps only represent reality.
• One of Korzybski’s sayings often repeated by his followers is “The map is not the territory.”

For anyone interested in learning a lot about the use and misuse of language in our current environment, I strongly recommend Practical Intelligence by Karl Albrecht. Albrecht lays out for us seven semantic sins [15] :

• Blanketing —declaring one’s opinions, beliefs, or judgments as if they were true for everybody
• Aggression —belittling a person by describing him or her in demeaning, critical, judgmental, accusative, or sarcastic language
• Directiveness —pressuring a person indirectly with “should” language
• Attribution —attaching a motivation, often an ignoble one, to a person’s behavior
• All-ness —generalizing so broadly as to obscure important differences
• Dogmatism —a strong, unconditional, declarative statement or value judgment
• Polarization —framing an issue, problem, or disagreement in terms of only two mutually exclusive possibilities

These descriptions are only partial statements concerning this topic of what do we mean by meaning, and again I recommend Practical Intelligence . To anyone interested in the sane use of language and developing mind skills that cause us to be far better at making better decisions, understanding our options, embracing ambiguity and complexity, articulating problems clearly and working to solutions, having original ideas, and influencing the ideas of others, this book covers it all. [16]

I enjoyed speaking with you all through this blog. I have tried to communicate (get the little joke?) about the great importance of human communication ideas and skills for life success. We need to think with attitudes of genuineness, respect, and empathy and communicate these attitudes (the Bolton Model). We need to listen actively and effectively, and we need to speak using all the rhetorical tools accumulated for over 2,000 years from Aristotle to Karl Albrecht. I hope I have not kept you for too long. Brevity is a marvelous principle of effective communication. Also, pardon me for lapses that do not conform to the ideas I presented. (How about the trees and the woods cliché in Blog II?) I am sorry that I had to leave out many important aspects of public speaking — voice, delivery, body and facial language, use of statistics and other ways to amplify, story telling as an important means of persuasion, eye contact, and using specific, definite, and concrete language.

Concerning the last item, before I leave you, let me mention one little book, just about 100 pages, that has been described this way by one critic: “No book in shorter space, with fewer words, will help any writer (or speaker) more than this persistent little volume.”  The book is Strunk and White, The Elements of Style , now in the 4th edition. If you want to review quickly how to communicate correctly and with style, get this book for your library. Its focus is writing, but great speeches start as written documents. Many ideas covered by the writer in Blogs III and IV are amplified in this hugely popular work, selling millions of copies. I leave you with some words from Strunk and White that, while they are talking about writing, apply here [17] :

If those who have studied the art of writing are in accord on any one point, it is on this: the surest way to arouse and hold the interest of the reader is by being specific, definite, and concrete. The greatest writers — Homer, Dante, Shakespeare — are effective largely because they deal in particulars and report the details that matter. Their words call up pictures.

To achieve excellence in oral communication, then, yes, be specific, definite, and concrete — all about choosing the right word, but also recognize the ways that effective oral communication varies from written, and don’t forget those attitudes: genuineness, respect, and empathy.  Your audience will recognize these attitudes and reward you with attention and agreement.

Copyright: Claude L. Kordus, 2010. All rights reserved.

[2] Brandon Royal, The Little Red Writing Book (New York: Metro Books, 2009) 82- 84.

[3] Hewitt Associates Internal Training Materials.

[7] Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, Ph.D., and Mark Mazzarella, Put Your Best Foot Forward : Make a Great Impression by Taking Control of How Others See You (New York: Scribner , 200 0 ) 246 .

[8] Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, Ph.D., and Mark Mazzarella, 246.

[9] Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, Ph.D., and Mark Mazzarella, 24 7 .

[10] Judith A. McManus, How to Write and Deliver an Effective Speech ( Lawrenceville, New Jersey : ARCO , c. 1998 ) 65 .

[11] John F. Wilson, Carroll C. Arnold, and Molly Meijer Wertheimer , Public Speaking as a Liberal Art , sixth edition (Boston: Allyn and Bacon , 1990 ) 290 .

[12] Brandon Royal, 65.

[13] Brandon Royal, 56.

[14] Judith A. McManus, 61.

[15] Karl Albrecht, Practical Intelligence: The Art and Science of Common Sense (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2007) 178-179.

[16] Karl Albrecht , 161-187 .

[17] William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, The Elements of Style , four th edition (New York: Longman Publishers , 199 9 ) 2 1 .

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Ethics and quality and potential, for love of the game…, daubert has “teeth” (and a pulse), this post has 4 comments.

Another solid article.

Thanks for this post. I read it with huge interest, especially the thing about positive words.

Thanks a lot!

Best wishes

My concern is this point : “Word Choice”

Since English is not my mother language, as a member of marketing team, sometimes I make a mistake in my presentation. I need more learning. 🙂

Thanks for this valuable advice.

I think this is the best article of the series. Information is only valuable if you can communicate it in a way that affords a mutual respect between the speaker and the listener.

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Miranda Lambert Talks Her New Album, Staying ‘Fiery’ and Life With Husband Brendan McLoughlin

It’s been over two decades since Miranda Lambert stole America’s heart with her stint on the singing competition Nashville Star . Since then, she’s become one of the most powerful players in the country music scene thanks to her undeniable talent, sassy confidence and penchant for keeping it real.

“I’m lucky,” Lambert exclusively shares in the latest issue of Us Weekly . “I reached a lot of my goals early, and then you’re like, ‘What do I chase now?’ It takes a while to figure out the balance of actually living your life so you have something to write about and constantly being on the grind. And I think I finally found that balance pretty good.”

She largely credits that stability to her husband, former NYPD officer Brendan McLoughlin , whom she married in 2019 after a whirlwind romance. The pair live on a 400-acre farm outside Nashville where they tend to a menagerie of animals, while Lambert, 40, divides her time between various ventures, including her MuttNation Foundation, numerous businesses and, of course, music. On September 13, she’ll release Postcards from Texas , her self-produced first album under a new deal with Republic Records, that combines her trademark honest lyrics with, as she describes it, “all kinds” of country music.

“I made this with a new energy, kind of like the energy I had at 19 making my first album,” explains Lambert, who recorded it, fittingly, in her native Texas. “This record feels like you made it home, and you’re like, I’m going to send you some letters from home for a while.”

Here, Lambert talks more about life, love and learning.

How would you describe this new era of music?

After 20 years on Sony Records and then parting ways and regrouping, I had time to think, what do I really want my next chapter to be? I wanted to go back to the root and find my footing again. To finally make another record in Texas with my best friend, Jon Randall , and it just has this honky-tonk home sound to me. That’s the way I grew up. It’s the music that got me started. So it feels full circle.

Your husband, Brendan, is credited as a writer on the song “Dammit Randy.” How did that come about?

We were at our house in Austin, and Brendan was watching football and Jon got the guitar out. Brendan was listening and kept piping in here and there with some ideas, and we’re like, “Are we cowriting? You’re going to have to turn the game off.” So he did, and he had some of my favorite lines in the song. It’s his first cut ever on an album. I’m actually really proud of him, and he’s super excited about it.

Miranda Lambert and Brendan McLoughlin: A Timeline of Their Whirlwind Romance

So he’s a songwriter now?

Yeah, he’s putting “songwriter” on his bio. I’m like, “Slow your roll.”

Can he sing?

He sings at karaoke. He’s a music lover in general, which is fun because he’s not in the industry, but he loves it and is also very honest. It’s nice to have somebody in your life that’s like, “No, that sucks. That doesn’t look good on you. That song is my favorite.” It keeps it real, especially him being a New Yorker, they don’t mince words.

Did you ever think you would fall in love with a city boy?

Absolutely not. It was the most random thing, but it was meant to be. He’s such a great friend and really supportive, but he does his own thing. I [also] got to spend a lot of time in New York. We had an apartment in Soho, and I just got to be a tourist and immerse myself in the city.

What have you learned about love since being in this relationship?

So much. I guess the thing I’ve learned the most is just that communication is everything. Love doesn’t always cut it. You’ve got to talk about s–t. And you have to compromise sometimes and be willing to listen to each other when you have something important to say. Love is hard some days, but the reward is so worth it.

Country Music’s Blonde Bombshells: Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton and More

Does Brendan challenge you in ways you haven’t been before?

Absolutely. He calls me out, and I love that. I need that. I don’t think it’s healthy that people, especially artists or celebrities, surround themself with yes people. If you surround yourself with a group of people who are honest with you, you’ll go a lot farther, and it’s a lot healthier in the long run.

You wed after just three months together. How did you know that Brendan was The One?

I kind of went for it; no risk, no reward. I grew up in a family of first responders with cops and firemen. That gave me trust to begin with. Texas people are very much who they are, like, “Y’all come on in, but if you don’t like us, we really don’t care.” That New York mentality is the same, except they’re not as sweet about it. I just felt like the worst that could happen, I’ve lived through. If it ends, it ends.

So you didn’t hesitate to take a gamble?

If you don’t put your heart out there, are you ever going to get the big love that everybody wants, that all the songs are about, that all the movies are about? I’m guarded in a lot of ways, but when it comes to my heart, I’m like, what do you really have to lose? Pain is pain, but it passes.

What’s a typical night for you guys when you’re home?

We’re pretty chill. When we’re off work, I’m in my patio hang vibe. We’ll make drinks and listen to music. Sometimes we’ll have the best parties just by ourselves. He loves what he calls “happy hour music” — Matchbox 20 and Goo Goo Dolls. So we have different tastes, but we’ll sit there for hours and listen. Sometimes I say to him, “We kind of live on a date,” which is pretty awesome.

Miranda Lambert and Brendan McLoughlin’s Sweetest Quotes About Each Other

You’ve been in the public eye since you were a teen. How have you learned to cope with all the attention?

When you’re going through something really hard and personal and everybody’s in on it, people you don’t even know are not supportive and kind. Once, somebody said, “You asked for this!” And I was like, I didn’t ask for any of that. I try to be mindful of that, too, just in everyday life. Don’t spread negative stuff. We’ve all been a mean girl before. I learned it doesn’t make anything better. It just makes me look small, and it’s not the way I want to be.

Was it difficult for Brendan to adjust to the spotlight?

It’s just been a lot because he moved to Nashville. He retired as a police officer, and that’s an adjustment. There was just a lot of new at once, and that’s hard on anyone. We were figuring out life. 2020 actually was a blessing in that way because we were stuck at home together and really got to know each other without all the noise.

You turned 40 last November. How has it been so far?

Everybody tells me that 40 is the best decade, and I’m so excited about that part. But a lot is changing daily. It’s like you just shift emotionally [and] I’ve really been thinking about priorities and what’s next for the first time in my life.

What are some of the changes you’ve experienced?

I care even less about noise and opinions that don’t mean anything and are hurtful. I don’t have room for that.

Miranda Lambert Through the Years: From ‘Nashville Star’ to Country Icon

You’ve been going for over 20 years. Are there any missteps in your career that you’d like to do over again?

There’s a million of those. There’s a million of just being a human. Musically, I don’t have a lot of regrets. Just weaving in and out of relationships and labels. There’s a lot of things [where] I look back, and I go, maybe I could have handled that differently. I’m a Scorpio, so I’ll make the decision right away, good, bad or ugly. My husband’s a Libra, so I’ve learned from watching him not to rush into comments or judgments or decisions.

It seems like you’ve always stayed true to yourself as an artist. Have you ever worried about being too vulnerable in your lyrics?

I’m sure it crosses everyone’s mind, because as a songwriter, you’re really saying your truth. And I think it’s important, even the tough songs that are like, “Oh, this one’s pretty raw.” But I put songs like that on every record I’ve ever put out because that’s what I signed up to do. That’s what country music is about: saying the truth — good, bad or ugly.

You aren’t afraid to speak your mind.

It’s also gotten me in trouble. I’m definitely a fiery personality and am strong in who I am. Most times it’s been worth it, honestly, because at least people know who I am. Sometimes, if you’re just vanilla and not polarizing in any way, do you just kind of disappear into the fray?

You’ve come so far. How does it feel to look back on your career?

I have to sleep at night, even though some of my creative choices [put me on] a longer road. I haven’t had a ton of No. 1’s, and it’s taken a lot longer. And for women, it takes longer in country music. But it was worth it to me because I wanted to make sure that people knew exactly who I was, where I was from and the values that I carried through my music and as a person. If that meant the longer or harder road, it was worth it to me. I’d rather not do it at all than present myself as something that I’m not, because people see right through that.

That approach has certainly earned you a lot of loyal fans.

I feel like country fans, especially, are the kind that stay with you forever. We have the best fans in the world. I’m having girls who were my age when I first came onto the scene who are bringing their daughters [who are] 15 and 16 saying, “We grew up on your music.” It means so much to me that they’d pass that on to their daughters because the messages are still the same, and it’s still about being a powerful person and knowing who you are.

For more on Lambert, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.

Credits for cover photo:

Hair: Johnny Lavoy Makeup: Moani Lee Styling: Tiffany Gifford Top: Double RL Skirt: For Love and Lemons Bra: Dobreva Vintage boots and belt are Miranda's own Necklace & Wedding Band: Mud Lowery Ring (right hand): Anna Sheffield Ring (left hand/pointer finger): Tennessee Turquoise Company