Speech Tips

Research Tools and Techniques: The Backbone of Great Speeches
Sheila Allee

Sooner or later the subject had to come up. Research. It is, without doubt, the flesh and blood of great speeches and presentations.

A well-researched speech gives a speaker greater authority, credibility and power. In fact, the more thorough the background work, the more lively and interesting a speech is likely to be.

A little extra digging can turn up anecdotes, quotes and facts that plug electricity into what otherwise might be a routine turn at the podium.

So what’s involved in speech research? Here are six tips for gathering information:

1. Think about what you already have and know. Check out files, magazine articles, books and other printed materials you have on hand. Coworkers and associates are other sources of information. If your organization has an on-site library, use it.

2. Once you’ve done a thorough review in-house, it’s time to branch out. Search the Internet. Visit or call the local library. Your library’s reference desk can be an extremely valuable resource.

3. Consider other sources of information ­ corporate videos, annual reports, speech texts, newspaper archives.

4. If you’re writing for a speaker, be sure to talk to him/her and gather information. He/she can be your greatest resource.

5. Don’t forget audience research. Find out the size, demographics and everything else you can about your audience. Check out the setting for the speech. Will there be a speaker stand, podium, teleprompter, slide or video capability? Will the speech be in a hotel ballroom, convention center or a company conference room? For more information on audience research, see previous Speech Tips article titled “Know Your Audience (Better Than They Know You)” on www.sheilaallee.com

6. Make it a point to be on the lookout always for speech material. Scenes and quotes from movies, story lines from books, newspaper and magazine cartoons and even fortune cookie fortunes can spice up a presentation.

When I am writing a speech, at least 75 percent of my time is devoted to research. I find that the better informed I am, the easier it is to prepare a forceful, effective speech.

BONUS TIP OF THE MONTH: Eye contact. Don’t leave the podium without it. It’s one of your best tools for connecting with the audience. Even if you’re speaking in a very large room, make eye contact with listeners on the first few rows of seats. Making visual connection with members of the audience gives you credibility and communicates confidence. And believe it or not, it can help calm your nerves. When you’re speaking, hold someone’s gaze at least ten seconds, then move on. It will be challenging at first, but you’ll get the hang of it.

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