Got a speech to write? Use my simple process that I've detailed below.
It's worked for me for years.
Hundreds of our Heroic Public Speaking students have become masterful at content creation by using this exact strategy.
(Bonus tip: this process can be used for any type of content: blog post, video, podcast or sales pitch. So go wild!)
1. First, brain dump everything you know about the topic.
You can use any capture method you like: digital, manual or hybrid, but I recommend setting aside a specific, dedicated amount of time to do this when you won't have any other distractions.
Let your mind run free. Don't worry about ANYTHING at this stage: you're creating a "raw product" that you'll later craft into an artfully sculpted presentation.
Keep your notes in one place. If you've jotted down something on the back of a napkin, make sure you put it with all of your other annotated napkins. Avoid it getting lost at the bottom of your pocket or purse.
If you've got a voice memo on your phone, transcribe it and keep it with the rest of your brain dump.
Allow your mind to wander. Follow threads until they thin out, then start a new thread. Don't try to find any order at this stage, and don't worry about "stupid ideas".
If you repeat this process a few times, with a delay of a day or two between each session you'll find more ideas, and the strongest ones will filter to the top.
2. Organize your brain dump by compartmentalizing related ideas.
Look for the main points organize them.
I like to do this with index cards, or even better ... Post-It notes that can be rearranged on a window or white-board.
Group your dumped ideas into broad themes. This process will lead to more ideas developing in your mind and the clouds will start to clear and you'll soon have a structure to support your speech.
3. Note your direct experiences that relate to your main topic.
Personalization is important for many speeches.
Even if you aren't an expert in the topic you'll be speaking about, your audience will be more engaged if you can include personal anecdotes or stories or examples from real life to support your ideas.
For example:
"Bob Burg famously said "People do business ... with people they know, like and trust."
"And that's true: 65% of my clients were my friends before they started using my services."
4. Gather the direct data, either anecdotal or scientific, that support your topic.
There's a dangerous trend amongst "experts" to rely heavily on Wikipedia or Google searches or a dictionary.
How many speeches or articles have you read that begin:
"The ABC dictionary defines XYZ as ..."
Don't be that person if you can help it. Want to cite great examples of customer service? Everybody else uses Zappos as an example: find another one.
Want to quote Benjamin Franklin? Just don't.
Instead, cite the most respected and credible sources that are more normally used by journalists and academics.
Go an extra layer deeper in your research and you'll enjoy more credibility and be able to provide sources and support beyond those that your audience have normally heard about. They'll take more notes.
5. Identify any holes, or vulnerabilities of logic or persuasiveness in your content.
This is the primary ingredient to being a great high-school debater: work out what your opposing team are going to say, and pre-emptively address those issues so that they're left disarmed.
This process adds to the sophistication of your presentation and you'll be more well-rounded and "reasonable".
Get other people to give you their input. Discuss with friends and colleagues whose opinion you value.
But be aware: opinions are like credit scores: everybody's got one and they're not always great.
So listen openly to the feedback, then apply - selectively - the parts that resonate.
6. Let the editing process begin.
Good content creation tends to be messy for a while, just like rehearsal.
But don't be afraid of it. You should spend roughly ten times more time, energy and effort on the editing process than on the first draft.
What's "good enough" for you today, won't be nearly good enough for you tomorrow, so go back and read with fresh eyes regularly.
Take breaks. Sleep and revisit.
7. Cut, cut, cut!
There's power in brevity. Never use three words when you can use two. Chop away at anything that doesn't actively add to your performance ... or any device that supports your performance.
You'll find out what works and what doesn't when you're in front of an audience. Probably not before.
Even the greatest comedians don't know if their new material will land until they've tested it in front of a crowd.
If you want to test out your material in front of an audience, get your tickets to Heroic Public Speaking Live right now.
We'll help you create the performance of your life.
Michael Port, Founder
MFA, NYU's Graduate Acting Program
Former Professional Actor
NY Times Bestselling Business Author of 6 books
Top Ranked Speaker and TV commentator
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