6 Expert Tips For Preparing The Best Keynote Speech

Introduction

The best key note speech is not about the content but its relativity to what the audience wants to hear. A professional key note speaker is the one who is able to strike a balance between informational, persuasive and inspirational speech types.

What Do You Mean By A Key Note Speech?

A key note speech is nothing but a presentation of a bouquet of thoughts that makes the audience feel curious, empathized, surprised & so on. As you may be aware that the attention span of the audience is limited, you need to prepare shorter talks focused on practical insights.

Tips For Preparing The Best Key Note Speech

“Struggle-based” stories make audience’s empathize. “Success” stories satisfy their curiosity while “overcoming the fear” plots can propel them to move out of their comfort zone.

By matching the plot to what you know about your audience, you can guide their emotions and actions. This change occurs by working upon my ORICAC Model.

Opening

Humor helps to create better engagement and also adds up curiosity. Also, when you include activities such as dancing or singing, this will activate their senses and make the listeners feel as though they are actually participating in the experience.

Further, you have to be friendly. Do not be afraid to smile. A very important point to note here: “Do not read your opening statement”.

Keynote shorter than 20 mins is not optimal. Instead, plan for a 45-60 mins Keynote Speech. (paulhugheslive)

Research on your audience

You need to show up early to check out the environment, audience proximity, and also to get familiar with the surroundings. Do not just sprinkle in technical words like Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning to create fake impressions. They would not last for long and you risk losing credibility.

Initiate 1 Min overview

Audio video would come in handy here. Try and state your theme immediately in one sentence. You can make it quiz based too. It doesn’t matter if your audience has further questions to it. In fact, further questions mean that the person actually cares (great start)!

Caselets

You can rely on themes such as cinema, sports, mythology, leadership etc. The impact of such themes as the background of your key note will keep your audience engaged. Relaying a story that incorporates the theme helps make the key note enjoyable and easier to comprehend.

For example, 3 idiots movie had a great learning in its each frame. Self -awareness, passion and excellence are a few to be mentioned here which you can use in youth based events.

Similarly, short films such as Nirnay Lele  display the importance of decision making.

Action the wrap up

Great key notes should get greater towards the end. As a keynote speaker for business events, I usually use the hand image wherein each finger of the hand denotes a key take-away followed by wrap up sentences like…

“My apologies for those who have a few lesser fingers or a few added ones and Thank you for being you! A wonderful audience to show my gratitude!”

Similarly, you must come up with your best style/ punch line. Make it impactful so that, it has a better recall value.

Closing

Feedback is a blessing, so encourage it as it makes you a better key note speaker. Also, engaging with your audience after an event gives you a chance to connect one-on-one with people as they want more face time with speakers.

In this way, my ORICAC model can help you in preparing the best keynote speech.

Bonus Tip:

Improve Your Public Speaking Skill

Public speaking is one of the most important forms of communication. As you know, it’s not about what you say but how you say it. And in order to get awarded by claps, you need to know, to whom you are saying it.

One of the best ways to improve public speaking is to know your audience and their attitude viz. whether they are friendly, apathetic, uninformed or hostile.

“All the great speakers were bad speakers at first” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Earning Opportunities For Keynote Speakers

By the way, your pay cheque as a key note speaker depends on your name, expertise, niche, experience, and message. In the early days, I spoke for leads.

For example, I once gave a free talk for veterans at an international conference on Destination Weddings on Blue Ocean Strategy.

Remember, an ability without an opportunity has no value. Hence, initially, you may choose to work on creating more key note speaking opportunities which will be pro-bono.

Final Thoughts

You must ask the organizer questions such as start date, location and the context of the event, to determine whether it’s for hundreds of senior executives or for a few mix bag of audience.

Pro Tip : At any given time, you must always dress appropriately and avoid using a monotone voice.