Those Who Are Into Public Speaking....

[Seed]

Is it better to memorise a speech before delivery or write basic points and speak impromptu?

 Writing to me, is my art and I find I can inspire and move people emotionally with my words. My icebreaker at Toastmasters (first speech) brought people to tears and I didn't receive any constructive criticism in the feedback slips, only praise. However, I wrote the speech, memorised it and then read it.

The way I write is different to the way I speak, conversationally. Conversationally, my brain is slow and I struggle to find the right words. I also find it hard to make funny jokes and I get awkward. Not all the time, but sometimes. 

Do I need to break this habit by speaking more casually in my speeches instead of memorising a beautifully worded, dynamic and stimulating script?

Or should I just play on my strengths and do what I do best, even though the speeches don't match my conversational and impromptu speech ability?

I am currently at Toastmasters and will be delivering my 2nd speech in a few weeks.

The reason I joined was to improve my ability to deliver speeches needed to fulfill my life purpose, as well as being more confident, socially. 

Thanks in advance.

Edited September 8, 2018 by Seed

[brugluiz]

Interesting topic. I'm not into public speaking, but I want to learn from it. Leo has a wonderful speech (his videos). He talks for 1 hour with no stop and explain very well the subject. I wonder which strategies he uses.

[Forestluv]

There are many different delivery styles for public speaking. As well, there are various atmospheres fir the talk, including topic, audience, venue.

In general, I like to have a good understanding of the material and speak casually with the audience - as if I’m having a great conversation with them. Often, unplanned ideas spontaneously arise and I roll with it. Like a jazz guitarist - there is the underlying framework as well as improvisation. Other speaking styles, like poetry jam, is highly structured - yet amazing as well. Rehearsed can gi over well as long as you don’t look and sound like a robot

[Leo Gura]

Speaking from a script is a totally different skillset from speaking off the cuff.

Which skillset do you want? Practice that one.

As a middle way you could practice speaking based off a PowerPoint outline, that way you have some basic notes, but not entire written out sentences.

Speaking off the cuff is far more enjoyable and powerful. It is the harder skill to develop, but really worth it.

[martin_malin]

As a professional speaker, I’ll be the first to say that everyone has its own style.

That said, you can be sure that the best speeches or comedy set are the ones that have been done 200+ times. The more time you spend writing, re-writing and rehearsing your speech, the more effective you are. You can’t over prepare.

When you know exactly what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it, you are free to be yourself and improvise. The audience can feel your powerful presence. You are 100% with them.

Newbies often think memorizing a speech will make them look like a robot, so they just try to remember the bullet points and go with the flow. If you want to panic and get stuck in your head, do that. Very few people are capable of pulling it off in a high pressure situation. 

Last year, I attended a Tony Robbins event and some of his stories had to be at least 20 years old. I’m sure he had told his Andre Agassi tale a thousand times before. Yet, even if I knew what he was doing, I was mesmerized and ate everyone of his words. A magical performance.

[Leo Gura]

@martin_malin As a counter-point, isn't it curious how no enlightened master or yogi speaks from a memorized script? I wonder why?

[martin_malin]

@Leo Gura That is true. They trust that infinite intelligence will come to them…and it comes. It's a fantastic thing to witness. That said, that same infinite intelligence will manifest itself differently to comedians, playwriters and actors. Public speaking comes in many forms. 

[Seed]

Thank you @martin_malin That's really helpful advice... 

Thanks @Leo Gura At Toastmasters, we have to do impromptu speaking anyway for Table Topics and evaluations, so I could practice both simultaneously - or do you not recommend that ? 

Do you reckon I can still get good even though my brain seizes to function well in that kind of situation. I just feel like my weakness is impromptu and I know in the LP course you said to focus on your strengths, instead of trying to improve your weaknesses.

And writing, memorising and then delivering a powerful speech is a big strength of mine.... It brings a different side out of me, and I am able to express myself creativity and confidently. It brings me completely into flow. I am able to reach flow states with impromptu, or will i Just go from terrible to okay?

With impromptu, I don't want to force myself to be something I am not because I like the idea of it. And I don't want to waste my time trying to improve an aspect of myself which is not in line with my skill set. I understand clearly, that a different part of your brain is used for impromptu than writing. So would this be a waste of time to try to do it?

However, I know that having both those skills would be useful for my LP - so maybe I ought to practice both? One week focus on one, the next on another? Or would this create a division in my style and make me those authenticity?

Thanks x 

 

 

[Leo Gura]

@Seed Get clear about what your ultimate goal is and then do whatever that entails.

[Seed]

@Leo Gura  I feel like my ultimate goal entails both.

Can I please ask...

Have you always had the humor that you use in your videos?  e.g - were you always so conversationally quick and humourous? Or did you have to really work on this skill?

And did your quick wit and straight talking fluency develop from a strength you already had or did you have create it through the mastery process? Did your time at Toastmasters doing Table Topics help you improve or was it your own practices that worked the best?

I just want to make sure I use my time effectively, not wasting it on skills, which are not part of my make up. There's more than one way to skin a cat, as they say.

Thank you x