SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/533607
follow the same format, but a tried and true method used to assist in the creation of an outline is to think of the speech as "putting pieces of a puzzle together." Start by placing all the various pieces and parts of the speech on a piece of paper, as they come to your mind. This task is simply to brainstorm and get your ideas on paper. As you look at the random topics on the paper, a title for the speech may start to emerge as well as a sequence or order and structure to the topics. If you need help in putting structure to the content, try this tried and true method to organize content: Tell them what you're going to tell them (opening); tell them (body of the speech); then tell them what you told them (closing sum- mary). Keep it simple. This is called a "rough" outline for a rea- son. Include main points and sub points you want to cover. Indicate sources where you collected information, and make note of content you need to research. Update the outline as you collect new research and content. PRACTICING There is an old adage in the real estate business. It indicates the most important thing in real estate is location, location, location. In keeping with that theme, I would offer the most important thing in speech delivery is to practice, practice, practice. I cannot emphasize enough the value of knowing your content inside and out. Doing so will bring confidence to you to deliver a great speech. The opening of your speech has three goals: Grab the audi- ence's attention; preparing them for something yet to come; and identifying yourself as an expert in your field. Don't start out by giving "housekeeping" or administrative details. Do not start by saying, "How nice it is to be there." These approaches are old hat and passé. Having a polite speech opening is a fine technique, but if you want to fire up your presentation and audience, open with a "grabber" or "hook" consider the following: The Big Promise. Making a hard to believe promise shakes people out of their slumber. The Rest of the Story. This technique is where you share a story and get to the climax or highest point of intrigue and say, "I'll tell you what happens later" and people will be hang- ing on your words because they don't want to miss what you will be sharing at a later time. The Shocker. Making a shocking statement that grabs attention. Statistics are often used as scary information. Think about your speech topic and see how many scary statistics you can gather. Using 2-3 scary statistics in your introduction will get the audience's attention. The Imagine Question. The imagine question initiates and prompts thought, excitement, and dreams. Using Humor. Using humor can be tricky. Use humor that does not make the audience the butt of the joke. Use humor that does not isolate or segment a portion of the audi- ence. Use humor that involved profanity or coarse language. Don't insult your audience. Keep clear of ethnic, religion, pol- itics, and sexuality jokes. Don't apologize if the joke bombs. Move on. THE CLOSING The closing should be a summary of what you told them. As simple as that sounds, it is a good way to end as it signals the presentation is over. Although this type of ending is accept- able, it lacks impact. Planning for a powerful closing should be given as much emphasis as the opening and body of the presentation. It would be a shame to have put so much thought and energy into your presentation only to have your closing fizzle out and be lack luster. Ways to end your speech with impact: The Bookend close; refer back to your opening anecdote or quote and say, "We have arrived, now, where we began." This is a good place to summarize your key points. The Challenge close; challenge the audience to apply what you have told them. Taking action or applying in some way the content you presented can be shared by saying, "Let us turn from spectator into participant." Repetitive close; finding a phrase and use it in cadence like drummer, building to an ending. Example: "Engineers cannot build it. Lawyers cannot litigate it. Judges cannot adju- dicate it. Politicians cannot legislate it. Only you can make it happen!" The Title close; give your speech a provocative title that makes your message memorable. Then use the title in your closing to stir the audience to think and reinforces the presentation. Think about writing the closing first to better construct a title that can be used. The Callback close; refer back to a story, quote, or anecdote you shared earlier in your presentation. Make your closing revolve around that story, quote, or anecdote. The Movie close; make a reference to a well-known movie. For example, concluding a speech on the call for a new product, and the need to leave behind old products that have been used for years, a reference is made to moving on, being bold, and taking risks. One could reference, "This is the final frontier, boldly go where no one has gone before, and seek new worlds," referencing "Star Trek, the Movie." Quotation close; as the name implies, this closing uses a quote to capture the audience's attention. If you are ending a speech on the topic of change and people, you could end with Gandhi's quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." ■ ST Jerry Balistreri, BS, MS, MEd, DTE is an ASTD Certified Trainer, professional speaker, trainer and author. balis@ acsalaska.net; www.readingthetells.com FIELD SCIENCE 34 SportsTurf | July 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com FACILITY & OPERATIONS