1. Confident & Effective Public Speaking
How to Convey your Organization’s Mission
Confidently & Effectively
November 9, 2011

2. Confident & Effective Public Speaking
CONFIDENT & EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SPEAKING
PURPOSE
This seminar will provide you with tips to confidently and effectively communicate about your
organization to others. Sometimes the difference between bringing in a new funder or volunteer
is the ability to give a successful 30 second elevator pitch about your organization. During this
one-hour session, you’ll learn helpful tips that you can take back to the office to improve the
way your team articulates the organization’s mission and work.
“A good orator is pointed and
impassioned.” ~ Marcus T. Cicero
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3. Confident & Effective Public Speaking
CONFIDENT & EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SPEAKING
QUICK INTRODUCTION
Choose up to 4 words to describe your organization and the contributions your organization
makes. Only note 4 words or short phrases in the space below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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4. Confident & Effective Public Speaking
PREPARING YOUR ELEVATOR SPEECH – THE KEY
The term "elevator speech" reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver a quick,
effective speech in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately thirty seconds to two
minutes. The best elevator speeches are those that can explain a business proposition to the
occupants of an elevator in the time it takes them to ride to their floor. In other words, an
elevator speech that works is able to describe and sell an idea in 30 seconds. Today, an
elevator speech can be any kind of short speech that sells an idea, promotes your organization,
or markets you as an individual.
An elevator speech is as essential as a business card. You need to be able to say who you are,
what you do, what you are interested in doing and how you can be a resource to your listeners.
If you don’t have an elevator speech, people won’t know what you really do.
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Before writing any part of your elevator speech, research your audience. You will be much more
likely to succeed if your elevator speech is clearly targeted at the individuals you are speaking
to. Having a generic elevator pitch is almost certain to fail.
KNOW YOURSELF
Before you can convince anyone of your proposition you need to know exactly what it is. You
need to define precisely what you are offering, what problems you can solve and what benefits
you bring to a prospective contact or employers
Answer the following questions:
1. What are your (and your organizations’) key strengths?
2. What adjectives come to mind to describe you (and your organization)?
3. What is it you are trying to “sell” or let others know about you?
4. Why are you interested in the company or industry the person represents?
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5. Confident & Effective Public Speaking
OUTLINE YOUR TALK
Start an outline of your material using bullet points. You don't need to add any detail at this
stage; simply write a few notes to help remind you of what you really want to say. They don’t
need to be complete sentences.
You can use the following questions to start your outline:
1. Who am I?
2. What do I (and my organization) offer?
3. What problem is solved?
4. What are the main contributions I (and my organization) can make?
5. What needs am I (and my organization) fulfilling for the listener?
6. What should the listener do as a result of hearing this?
FINALIZE YOUR SPEECH
Now that you have your outline of your material, you can finalize the speech. The key to doing
this is to expand on the notes you made by writing out each section in full.
To help you do this, follow these guidelines:
1. Take each note you made and write a sentence about it.
2. Take each of the sentences and connect them together with additional phrases to make
them flow.
3. Go through what you have written and change any long words or jargon into everyday
language.
4. Go back through the re-written material and cut out unnecessary words.
5. Finalize your speech by making sure it is no more than 90 words long.
“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the
message of your heart.” ~ John Ford
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6. Confident & Effective Public Speaking
DEVELOP YOUR INTRODUCTION
Determine which of your organizations attributes or skills will be of most interest to those
you will be meeting.
Get comfortable with a script that can lead to a brainstorming discussion about the
contributions your organization makes to the community.
Use words that are easy to understand by the general population and those outside of your
industry.
DETERMINE YOUR KEY POINTS
During the networking meeting, you will be giving a pitch about your organization. The goal is
to convey the mission of your organization in a quick, easy to understand way that exemplifies
the impact your organization has on the community.
In the table below, take each word or phrase from the previous page and write an example of
the accomplishment your organization achieved in this area or hopes to achieve. Consider your
organization’s strengths and what differentiates your organization from others. Also consider
these questions as you note the achievements or goals.
What problem(s) does your organization solve? What need(s) does your
organization fulfill?
How is your organization unique from everyone else out there?
What are your social/community goals?
Key Word Key Point
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7. Confident & Effective Public Speaking
OKING MEETING PRACTICE
KEYS TO EXPRESSING YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS
1. Formulate your objectives. Having a clear objective will help you throughout
your talk, from capturing your listeners’’ interest at the beginning to summarizing
and recommending action at the end.
2. Capture interest. Your listeners’ minds are filled with competing concerns. You
need to grab their attention so they’re willing to set aside other thoughts and
distractions for a while.
3. State your central point. Listeners soon lose interest if you take too long
getting to the core of your message. Letting them know your main idea at the
beginning enables them to focus as you build your case or communicate
information.
4. Offer supporting tips. Supporting points are the core of your talk. They can
provide the information you want to get across and substantiate your conclusion.
5. Summarize and recommend action. Ending with a quick summary that
relates back to your central point enables your listeners to see how your ideas
are connected and to understand their impact. Recommending action gives your
listeners a focus for the future.
THE K.I.S.S. KEY
Keep It Simple Silly
Keep It Short & Sweet
Keep It Simple & Succinct
“Be sincere; be brief; be seated.”
~Franklin D. Roosevelt
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8. Confident & Effective Public Speaking
10 KEY TIPS FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING
Combat your nerves. Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies, appear
confident, and give better presentations:
1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more
about it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and
conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using.
Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice
with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.
3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to
speak to a group of friends than to strangers. Think about what your audience already
knows and the information they need to know by the end of the presentation.
4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the
microphone and any visual aids. Project your voice to fill the room.
5. Relax. Begin by genuinely addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your
nerves. Pause, smile, and count to three before saying anything. Transform nervous
energy into enthusiasm.
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud,
clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
7. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting,
stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.
8. Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never
noticed it.
9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from
your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience. Peel your eyes
away from your notes and visuals to make eye contact with your audience.
10. Gain experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you and your organization.
Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
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9. Confident & Effective Public Speaking
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