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Make Your Speech Sparkle

Jennifer Schmidt, EH2

When I celebrated the Fourth of July as a child, when Toastmasters told me of their positive and Making it fun for the audience
my favorite firework was the sparkler. An negative experiences with athletic pursuits. The
electric bouquet of shooting stars captivating spark was struck, the story lit up their memory Ensure your message is worth their time.

me with the magic of light and sizzle. When I helping them identify with the themes in my A great way to achieve this is to make it fun.
write a speech, especially for contests, I want speech. The personal story and emotions were When the audience laughs it’s powerful and
to create that same feeling of delight and the fuel that fed those memories. They formed confirms they’re listening and enjoying
surprise for the audience. Achieving this as a a connection with the listener. themselves. True confession here: I also like

writer is thrilling. It may seem easy for writers having fun when delivering the speech. Usually
to create this magic. It is not. My first draft Making it real for the audience if I’m having a good time, the audience will
requires fine tuning and practice until I feel feel that too, and become enthused with my
it achieves sparkle. The three main elements Every personal story I tell is real, it energy. How do I create fun? Usually with dry

essential for successful sparkle are: making it happened to me. Some speakers decide to humor, self-deprecation, and the power of
personal, real, and fun. enhance their story for emphasis. I’ve found exaggeration. By demonstrating exceptionally
it’s critical that the story core be as real as bad swimming strokes with my body or
Making it personal for the audience possible. Audiences can feel when it’s not. You emphasizing the baaad in badminton with my

can’t fool them. They’ll resent your attempt voice, my delivery becomes engaging. Not only
Life experience stories have helped me and view it as inauthentic. They want to hear is it fun to do, but audiences also find these
win several Toastmasters contests because the from the real you. This bravery bolsters their nuances memorable.
audience easily relates to the topic. “Drop Shot” belief in what you’re saying and solidifies the Remember it's your unique sparkle that

was an epic tale of how I successfully executed credibility of your message. An audience that is the path to success. If you fine tune your
a drop shot in badminton that was impossible doesn’t believe you, will stop listening and your stories through audience feedback, share your
to return, even by my most athletic challenger. message is lost. “How does your real self come personal experiences that are real and fun,
This sole athletic achievement (after miserable through?” Convey your conviction to the story you're well on the way to creating a magical

failures at flag football and swimming) was a with true joy, excitement, and disappointment and memorable speech that will sparkle.
pivotal triumph in my short sporting career. using your voice, gestures, and message tools.
Failure and success are universal life themes. The audience will tell you when they care about
Even in an audience of athletes, they have failed the journey of your speech. I’ve seen nods,

at something. My main message was you learn snickers, and empathetic glances that confirm
and then keep trying until you find your way the appreciation for my efforts, because I was
to success. I knew “Drop Shot” was relatable my real self on stage.

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