Have you ever wondered what to say or not to say when you try to write a speech?
Let’s explore how to write a great speech that the audience will talk about years later, with the secret of “foundational phrase” that I learned from Craig Valentine, the 1999 world champion of public speaking.
How to write a speech that sticks in the audience’s mind?
What do you think a speech is?
If you attend a sharing session where I talk about how to give an impressive speech, you will surely remember a very simple definition of speech: It’s about PRESENTING an idea in a way that is PERSUASIVE.
To present your idea, most people usually use everything they have in their head to explain it, hoping that the listeners will understand what they want to say.
This way of doing things easily leads to rambling, the speaker might be happy but the listeners feel restless. So how can you speak happily and still make the audience happy, what is an impressive speech?
If you have watched the clip at the beginning of the blog, you will see that Craig Valentine advises you to always have a foundational phrase, or a closing message before telling any story or saying anything (that’s why you should do the conclusion first).
A foundational phrase is not just a good saying that stays in the minds of the audience, but also a guiding principle that helps you eliminate unnecessary parts of your speech, making it more concise and profound.
Then you won’t have to ramble or explain at length for everyone to understand something. It’s simply that you have a clear message you want to convey, and your entire speech illustrates that message to make it profound.
That’s the difference, that’s the impressive speech style of champions.
What is a foundational phrase?
If you watch Craig Valentine’s speeches, you’ll hear many foundational phrases that are good sayings but very rhythmic, easy to remember:
- No phrase, no stage.
- Your dream is not for sale.
- Speak to one but look to all.
- You master what you measure.
- If you can see it, you can do it.
According to Craig Valentine, an impressive foundational phrase usually ensures 3 factors:
- Concise (under 10 words)
- Easy to remember (rhythmic)
- Focused on the listener (has the word You)
Once you have those impressive foundational phrases, preparing your speech is very simple.
You just need to list all the ideas you have related to that topic, and whatever connects well or illustrates the foundational phrase well, you keep, and whatever is not related, you remove it!
How to have an impressive foundational phrase?
The simplest way to find a foundational phrase is to write down what you’re going to say to the audience. Then circle the keywords, and you’ll have many ways to find a foundational phrase.
(1) You just keep playing with words, keep writing that saying in different ways, you’ll find a rhythmic foundational phrase.
- Wrong method, long way to failure.
- Change your habits, master your life!
- Live a memorable life, write remarkable books!
(2) You Google good sayings related to that keyword.
You’ll find many quotes, but read them to learn, then come up with a saying of your own.
For example, when looking for ideas about the power of feedback in Toastmasters. I found Ken Blanchard’s quote: “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”
Then in my speech, I said:
If Ken Blanchard once said, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions” — I said, “Toastmasters is the best restaurant.”
(3) You do like Craig shares in the clip, you bring what you’re going to say to a public speaking club or share it with a friend, the interaction will surely help you generate good message ideas.
How to write a speech in everyday life?
Creating easy-to-remember, rhythmic messages is also a skill, you need to practice it every day for it to become instinctive, and you will be able to apply this impressive speech style without thinking.
It could be playing with words, reading good sayings, or posting a saying on Facebook every day and practicing explaining it as I usually do on my personal Facebook.
Especially recently, I have opened a group called Anyone Can Write to practice writing every day with good sayings, you can also join to practice every day, writing more will also significantly increase your language skills, which will support your speeches.
Foundational phrase is the key to writing a speech!
In conclusion, crafting a memorable and impactful speech involves more than just sharing ideas – it’s about presenting your message in a persuasive and concise manner.
The key to a successful speech lies in incorporating a foundational phrase, a guiding principle that ensures your message is clear and profound. By following the advice of public speaking champions like Craig Valentine, who emphasize the importance of a strong closing message, you can elevate your speech to leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Remember, a well-crafted foundational phrase should be concise, easy to remember, and focused on the listener, ultimately helping you deliver a powerful and engaging speech that resonates with your audience. So, next time you prepare a speech, start with your foundational phrase, and watch as your message unfolds with clarity and impact.
