May 2009
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Here's a Template for a Valedictory Speech. |
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Joey Asher
President's
Perspective |
You thought becoming the valedictorian of your high
school class was tough? That’s nothing compared to
giving a great valedictory speech. Spend just a few
minutes on YouTube and you’ll see that most valedictory
speeches are boring and, worse, embarrassing.
But there’s hope! You can give a great valedictory
speech.
Great valedictory speeches
follow a pattern. They offer a fond
reflection on the high school years. They connect with
audiences using anecdotes and lots of name-dropping. And
they offer gratitude. With that in mind, the key to a
great valedictory speech is to keep it simple, short
(ten minutes is perfect), mention lots of people by
name, tell stories, and practice it so much that you
don’t have to read it. You want to deliver it like
you’re having an animated chat with a close friend.
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What's Your "Bumper Sticker Speech"? |
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For many years, much of the marketing world has focused on
helping companies’ formulate an effective "elevator speech". And
that’s fine.
But sometimes, even an
elevator speech is too long. For those occasions, you need a "bumper
sticker" speech.
Here’s ours: “We help clients give presentations that win business.”
What’s yours?
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It Takes Work to Present "Naturally". |
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The public speaking blogs have recently had a lot to say about the
importance of being “natural” when you speak.
Indeed, one of the most common pieces of advice for speakers is
“Speak to the audience like you’re having a beer with them.” It’s
advice we give all the time.
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One Question Can Improve Your Sales Pitches. |
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Too often, when a potential client calls and asks for a sales
presentation, the potential vendor is so pumped for the opportunity
that they get off the telephone as quickly as possible.
But before you hang up, there is one question that you can ask that
can dramatically increase your ability to win the business.
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More Rave Reviews for How to Win a Pitch. |
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"This
book is one of those rarities that presents a simple framework that
“beginners” will be able to understand and use - yet still crams in
multiple gems of wisdom and insight that even highly experienced
sales people will learn from."
That is what Ian Brodie, on his blog "Sales Excellence", had to say
about
Speechworks President Joey Asher’s new book How to Win a Pitch:
The Five Fundamentals that Will Distinguish You from the Competition.
The book is available now on
Amazon. Or you can get it through Speechworks by
clicking here.
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Public Speaking Tip from Captain James T.
Kirk. |
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“Conquest is easy. Control is not.”
Those
are the words of James T. Kirk, Captain of the Starship Enterprise
on Star Trek.
While of course the quote has nothing to do with public speaking, I
think it’s an interesting commentary on leadership and what it takes
to lead. It’s one thing to be able to conquer someone. That just
takes force. But if you want to lead someone, that takes the ability
to connect with people and persuade.
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