The Art of Speeches and Presentations: The Secrets of Making People Remember What You Say

INTRODUCTION: ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Speeches still matter, even in a technological age. The act of persuasion is ubiquitous in professional life and very many people need to master it. The act of making a speech is a medium that has remained essentially unchanged through the ages. The anthologies of great speeches are a reminder of the continuing power of well-arranged words but they are not necessarily the best guide to the task that you confront. A speech becomes memorable by virtue of the grandeur of the occasion it describes and most people are performing at a less exalted level. That does not mean that we cannot still write and speak well, or that there are not certain characteristics that all successful acts of communication have in common. This book will introduce the central argument that you need to understand your central argument. That is the most important precept of all good writing. This book will help you to master the basics of the craft with reference to the following mnemonic: D: effective Delivery; E: setting Expectations; T: the central argument, known as the Topic; A: understanding the Audience; I: making the speech Individual to you; and L: minding the Language that you deploy. Pay attention to detail. The precise details to which you must pay attention are the subject of this book.

Strange Isolation

A man steps forward out of the dark, alone, trailed by a spotlight. He walks slowly towards the podium which is the only thing that decorates the otherwise naked ...