Copious notes will distract from your intrinsic message. Most people need some notes – oh for that invisible teleprompter, but alas this is usually not available!
Challenge yourself to storyboard your speeches in your head. So your speech has Scene one, Scene two, three and so on. After all, you don’t use notes in general conversation. If you have a special phrase or quotation, attempt to commit it to memory.
Your audience don’t generally expect you to speak without any words to prompt you, but have you noticed how some people are tied to their notes and rarely look up. Then, your speech becomes a reading, even if you are the author.
So here are some tips to help you keep on track while enjoying the bond with your audience. This is what you could do, so attempt to find the most effective method for you.
- When your speech is ready put it on cards; break it down to eight chunks per page.
- Reduce the words to a handful of dot points per card.
- You could use certain language as a memory jogger – like this…
- Describe that scene, problem or story in the opening
- Build on that story with some examples
- Expand the tale or personalise the experiences
- Add in that rhetorical question or funny moment)
- Summarise and reinforce your story and conclude with reference to the beginning
- It will help if you remember your speech plan like a movie.
- Refer the dot points but you may become inspired to not look at them.
- Your imagination will help – don’t just re-read the words, immerse yourself.
- Don’t grip your notes too tightly or play with them or anything else to distract your audience.
- Use small steps to reduce your reliance on memory joggers
- One day your memory will all come together to help you throw away your notes.
- Maintaining eye contact is always preferable to looking down and up!
Peter Martindale South Australia
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