Here are a few simple rules to follow when presenting any speech, whether it is to be 30 seconds or 30 minutes or more.

Preparation: First, determine your objectives. Why are you speaking? What do you want to achieve? How long is your speaking time? Who is the audience? What do they expect to learn from you? What is the natural linkage between this audience and your topic? Next, you must decide, based on the answers to your research, what your subject will be. Sum it up in one sentence to clarify your thinking. Then expand on it logically.

Organization: Every speech must have an opening, a body and a conclusion.
– Opening: Examples of effective openings are a bold statement of fact, an outrageous statement or a question backed up by one or two supporting sentences. Time should be 21 to 42 seconds for a typical seven-minute speech.
– Body: Here is where you explain and justify the opening, with three or four points only. Don't get lost in too much detail. You want the audience to remember what you have said and to follow your reasoning. Keep it simple.
– Conclusion: Summarize what you have said and refer back to your opening statement or question. Don’t introduce anything new. This ties your presentation together and rounds it out as a package.

Notes: A speech is more than a recitation of a written text. You want your written notes to assist your presentation, not distract you or your audience from what you are saying. Keep them short, not more than one page. However, it may help you clarify your thinking if you write your ideas down, one idea per paragraph. For a typical seven-minute speech, you might write one paragraph for the Opening, up to four paragraphs for the Body, and one paragraph for the Conclusion. Then, with a dark felt pen on 3 in. × 5 in. index cards, write down only the key words and phrases to help jog your memory as you are speaking to your audience. Number your cards.

Rehearsal: Rehearse your speech at home out loud. Refer to your cue cards only as necessary. Lay out all your cue cards on the lectern before you begin speaking. Refrain from turning them over as you speak, as this action will distract both you and your audience from what you are saying. As you become more familiar with your material through your rehearsals, you will become more relaxed and comfortable speaking before a live audience, and may not need to refer to the notes at all.

Practice: Imagine yourself delivering the speech flawlessly and receiving applause. In your mind, savour your success and your feelings of achievement. You can do it, and you will succeed.

Delivery: On the day of your presentation, arrive early, dressed in a professional, neat way, with your cue cards and a short, written, personal introduction to give to the Chair who will introduce you. When introduced, shake hands firmly with the Chair, face the audience, take a deep breath and smile. Then deliver your opening lines with confidence. Acknowledge the Chair by saying, for example, “Chair, fellow Toastmasters and welcome guests.” Continue with your speech. In no time you will come to the end and the speech will have been a resounding success.

Timing Lights: Keep your eye on the timing lights to help you develop a natural sense of timing. Speak long enough to inform your audience, and short enough to avoid going overtime. Remember, there are other speakers on the agenda too. Keep speaking until the green light appears. Begin wrapping up when you see the amber light. Conclude before the red light appears.

End: When you finish your speech, do not thank the audience for listening. They should be thanking you for presenting. Just smile and then acknowledge the Chair. Simply saying “Chair” to signify that you have finished your speech is sufficient. If you fail to acknowledge the Chair, the audience may think you have something more to say, and the ending could become awkward.

Impromptu Speeches: Examples are Table Topics, oral evaluation reports or other meeting reports. Typical time is 1-3 min. Even a mini speech should have an opening, body, conclusion, gestures and vocal variety. Begin by addressing the Chair and audience. Tell what you are going to talk about (opening), present your information in two to three succinct points along with supporting evidence (body), then sum up by repeating your main point (conclusion). Strategies for table topics speeches include the following techniques:
– Agree with or contradict an opinion presented as a topic.
– Without taking sides, consider some implications of the topic.
– Summarize the past, present and future of the topic.
– Compare and contrast the topic with something similar.

Remember to incorporate all of the techniques you have learned so far, including vocal variety and gestures (as appropriate).