| "Be Good, Be Brief, and Be Seated" | | | | you, you have to create something different that |
| You've probably heard the well-known old joke | | | | will help you stand out and be memorable. |
| about letter writing. "This is a very long letter | | | | 7. The logical flow of your talk must be tighter |
| because I did not have time to write a short one." | | | | than in a longer talk, or your audience will perceive |
| It exactly applies to when you are giving a short | | | | you simply as a 5 minute blatherer. |
| talk. In the speech game, if you don't take the | | | | 8. Your talk must be better memorized, because |
| time to craft a tight, focused presentation before | | | | you'll have no time to develop it as you go, or to |
| you deliver a short talk, you will lose your | | | | use audience interaction or other speech devices |
| audience. You may also lose your reputation. | | | | to help you remember your material. |
| For any length speech you have to craft the talk | | | | 9. You have to "play off of" the previous speaker |
| well, practice it well and deliver it well. This is true | | | | so you get the audience's attention quickly. If |
| for ANY length presentation, but unfortunately, | | | | your style is the same as what they just heard, |
| speakers often treat a brief talk as | | | | they may easily tune you out. |
| inconsequential. "This is only a five-minute talk, so | | | | 10. You have to "make the ask", just as in any |
| I'll just wing it. No need to practice such a short | | | | other length speech. Some wise person said, |
| speech." they think. This mind set can lead to | | | | "There is only one purpose in giving a speech, and |
| disaster. Smart speakers know better. They treat | | | | that is to get the audience to think differently, |
| ALL talks as important. | | | | feel differently or act differently." Know how you |
| Let's take a look at the ten most critical features | | | | want the audience to change as a result of your |
| of crafting and delivering short speeches. | | | | time on the platform, and you will very likely hit |
| 1. The writing for shorter speeches has to be | | | | the mark with them. |
| better than for long ones. You have less time to | | | | BONUS TIP: Many speakers want to "tell |
| get your critical message across. | | | | everything they know" about a subject. In a day |
| 2. You must make sure the audience gets the | | | | long seminar, this may be somewhat possible. |
| central core theme of your message...and right | | | | Never in a speech of an hour length. In a speech |
| away. | | | | shorter than that, it's a disaster. You will never |
| 3. You have no luxury of "warming up" your | | | | get going and your audience will wonder what just |
| audience as you sometimes can do in a longer | | | | happened. Instead, keep your message to the |
| talk or seminar. You must "make the first | | | | point, on target and laser-focused. |
| impression the best". | | | | For every 15 minutes of platform time, the |
| 4. You have no time for wandering around or | | | | smart, dedicated speaker has spent an hour in |
| chaff. Go off on a tangent and in a flash your | | | | development, rehearsal and preparation. It makes |
| time will be up and you will be sitting down...with | | | | a difference. As a famous violinist said, "When I |
| your audience wondering what in the world you | | | | do not practice for three days, my audience can |
| just said. | | | | tell. When I do not practice for two days, my |
| 5. If you are disorganized, you will trail past your | | | | orchestra can tell. When I do not practice for one |
| stop time, and no one likes that. Not the audience, | | | | day, I can tell". So it goes with speech making. |
| the promoter, or the other speakers to follow | | | | You want your audience to applaud you, think well |
| you. | | | | of you and act on your message. Doing all that |
| 6. So you don't anonymously blend in with all the | | | | takes some doing on your part. |
| other speakers that will come before and after | | | | |