Respond meaningfully to at least one of your peers. In the response post, include the following:
How was your peers special occasion speech different than yours?
Consider their recommendations on how to improve the speech. Know that you have read your peers advice, is there anything you would change in the suggestions you provided in the initial post?
Consider the advice on how to handle anxiety. How can you use this to manage your own anxiety?
Who gave the speech?
Step-Father
What was the special occasion? What was the setting?
It was a funeral. The death of a family member brought everyone together under one roof
How did the speaker use emotion to connect with the audience?
He reminisced on past interactions and experiences with my aunt, outlining some of her favorite things in life
Evaluate the delivery. What did you notice that was effective about the delivery? Could anything have been improved?
He spoke aloud, and made eye contact with the family. He allowed himself to be vulnerable and connect with people. He couldve been less abrasive on the delivery, but the message came across clear
Is there anything you would recommend the speaker do better the next time?
Be more comfortable talking. Every occasion calls for a certain detail, which can only be achieve by loosening up.
What advice do you have for any speaker who is experiencing anxiety before delivering their speech?
Remember that your speech has nothing to do with yourself, but how people perceive you. Be honest with how you feel, but know when to elaborate and move from topics as needed. JA
Speech of Introduction: Had to introduce myself to an audience of my peers for work.
Who gave the speech?
I had to prepare and deliver a speech about myself (About Me Speech)
What was the special occasion? What was the setting?
The setting was a leadership gathering with about forty of my peers. We had to introduce ourselves and share our journey not only with the company but our life journey as well. The occasion was a workshop designed to unite people across the board by getting to know more about each other.
How did the speaker use emotion to connect with the audience?
One thing most people have in common at the company I have worked for going on 21 years is that we all started thinking it was just going to be a part-time job. It creates laughter every time because so many relate yet here, we are 20,25,30,40 years later. Sharing how I started with the company because I was a young kid who needed insurance and to be able to support myself was my main draw to the company. Reflecting on the position I started in and where I have worked myself up to, really is a journey that took a lot of hard work and sacrifices both physically, mentally, and work-life balance. So many can relate, especially when I worked my way up to management there were not a lot of females in the position. A meeting of forty managers might have one or two women and they had been around at least fifteen years more than me at the time. Watching that number change over the years has been so amazing to see. The emotion I played on was not one of pity but rather a can-do attitude and how to always remain positive and plan for my next step/goal.
Evaluate the delivery. What did you notice that was effective about the delivery? Could anything have been improved?
The effectiveness was apparent by the nods or out loud comments around certain things I said (part-time job). For those who were just starting out in the role, it shows them where they can be as they continue to learn and grow. I have been approached and complimented for how fast I was able to go thru the reigns how I am known for certain projects and my engaging abilities with my teams, which help drive positive results. I feel that I tend to talk too fast at times, especially if I am talking about myself, not my favorite thing to do. I like to focus my attention on my teams or on others. I could have slowed down a bit in the delivery.
Is there anything you would recommend the speaker do better the next time?
I would tell myself to slow down! Rushing through and speaking too fast makes me appear nervous or not prepared when in all actuality I was just trying to get through it to take the spotlight off myself. Had I been delivering a speech on anything else; the mentioned behaviors would not have been a concern.
What advice do you have for any speaker who is experiencing anxiety before delivering their speech?
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths (in through your nose and out through your mouth). Eye contact is important but do not pick one person to stare at the entire time, I tend to scan the audience and make sure to maintain a strong posture so that I present as confident and prepared. Dont overthink, this one gets a lot of us, me included. I tend to get inside my head and then I forget key points, believe in yourself-you put in the hard work to research and prepare and trust yourself that you CAN and WILL deliver a strong speech that is well received by your audience. The last thing I would recommend is not for the beginning but for the end, seek feedback, we all have opportunities, and asking a peer, colleague, or member of the audience what went well and what could have been better will help you as you continue to learn, grow, and develop.
LV
