Two (2) Things Audiences want from Speakers

Imagine this. You're the Guest Speaker in an important event. You want to make a good impression and leave your audience with a great and lasting memory of your speech.

As you walk towards the microphone, you wonder: How am I going to do that?

Well, for starters, it will help to know what the audience wants from us, Speakers.

Most audiences are not demanding. All they want from us are two (2) simple things. If we can give them these two things, then we are on the way to making a good impression and leaving them with a great and lasting memory of our speech.

Here are the two things they want from us:

First, that the ideas we are to present to them BE ORGANIZED.

Second, that as we stand before them to speak, we BE CONNECTED to them.

Be organised. Be connected.

Two simple things they want from us. It's not too big a favour.  Not difficult to give, are they?

By "organised", they mean they want to know …

… what we will cover;
… what our main ideas are;
…  how they will know we have come to the climax and to the end of our speech.


By "connected", our audiences mean they want to feel that …

… we are speaking not just from the head but also from the heart; and
… we are speaking to them, personally … even if there are a thousand people in the audience.

Here's how I make sure the ideas in my oral presentation or speech are organised.

I follow this timeless, simple yet powerful formula. Here's how the formula goes:

"First, tell them what you are about to tell them (audience). Then, tell them. And then, tell them again what you just told them."

The principle tells me that there are three (3) important items that must be present in the speech or presentation material.

One, the OVERVIEW ( I tell them what I am about to tell them).

Two, the PRESENTATION PROPER (I tell them).

Three, the SUMMARY (I tell them again what I just told them).

The Overview excites my audience. The Presentation Proper enriches my audience. The Summary … well … makes my audience very happy to know that I have reached the end of my presentation.

Seriously, the Summary tells the again what I have just covered and reminds them what ideas are important to remember.

How much more organised can one be?

Next week: Three (3) powerful tools that connect us to our audiences.