Become an authentic speaker

…How to write for speaking and not write for reading

In the past, when I had to speak in front of an audience, I would simply write down everything I wanted to say in an essay format, memorize it and spew it out on the day of the event.

Then one day a close friend told me that I don’t sound authentic. She said that I sound like I am reading an essay.

Eager to find a solution to this inauthenticity-problem, I googled:

“how to become an authentic speaker”

After going over a bunch of articles, blogs and videos, I realized that speaking isn’t just writing out loud, and writing isn’t just transcribing speech.

Most people fail to grasp that when they sketch out a draft speech on paper or in their PowerPoint notes, they are not writing for reading. They are writing for speaking.

Yes, the words are there to be read by the speaker. But the speaker reads and uses them not to absorb the ideas and information, but to speak!

This means that when writing for speaking, the layout, energy and grammar of the words need to be completely different to what you write 99% of the time.

Here’s how someone laid out the opening passages for a short speech about “Biodiversity in Panama”:

There are several challenges in feeding a growing world population. But today, I would like to emphasize just one: Biodiversity loss.

The region of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is blessed with a wealth of agrobiodiversity, fishery resources and forestry reserves that cover about half of its territory. All these resources contribute significantly to feeding its population. Unfortunately, these resources are suffering degradation as a result of overexploitation and misuse.

I am convinced that all of you appreciate the role of biodiversity for food and agriculture and that you are aware of the consequences of biodiversity loss for our production.

This is not a SPEECH. It’s a dull ESSAY.

The language is ‘written’. No-one human talks like that, or if they do talk like that any people near them want to edge away.

Here’s a better way of doing it instead:

Birds!

* * * * *

Panama has 1000 bird species! More than USA and Canada combined

* * * * *

Why?

* * * * *

Panama is beautifully placed

Between North / South. Between Atlantic / Pacific

Panama à only country with tropical rain forest right in its capital

* * * * *

Think about that

Continent-sized diversity

Flying over our heads

Right now!

* * * * *

Think how fragile that is

It’s taken millions of years to create this diversity!

Think how quickly we humans and our technology can damage it

Destroy it

Within just a few years!

Maybe months!

Days!

Note the short, even staccato sentences, laid out to be seen at a glance. Grammar is at a minimum. The asterisks indicate possible pauses. The minimalist layout and punctuation help the speaker add emphasis/tone.

In the first example the speaker is ‘trapped’ in longer boring sentences. There is no choice but to read them out. There’s no scope for improvising on the day.

The second version helps the speaker glance at the page, see the line of argument and then speak to the audience directly. The speaker can run the words together or not, as makes sense on the day. The speaker has options.

So the next time you are tasked to give a speech, remember to write for speaking and not write for reading.

And after you’re done writing your speech, make sure to practice it out LOUD.

If you’re planning on using Orai to practice, there’s a feature that allows you to copy/paste your script.

Go to Home → My Scripts:

Since Orai measures your pace and energy, you can practice delivering your script at different speeds. So, experiment. Listen back to your recording and see what style works best for you.

Thanks for reading.

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