Planning a Speech? Try a Roller Coster model.

Almost everyone has experienced the thrill of a ride in a roller coaster. In the line, is the excitement of what is coming… when you are in, is the expectation of how it will be... then starting to move, ups and downs, turns, fast and slow, and at the end, you have a memorable experience. The speeches, specially the short ones, should be like that.

Let´s use this graph to explain the idea. The x-axis will be time and y-axis will be the intensity of the speech. Intensity in this context can be understood as peak of a story, an awesome picture or message, level of energy, etc.  If your speech is planned to be of high intensity all the time, it is going to be like a flat roller coaster a high altitude. If you are with low intensity all the time, it will be like the kids´ merry-go-round (boring if you are looking for excitement).


 

Before starting making the slides, you should plan the intensity over time of your speech. For example, you may plan a rhythm like this:

I do recommend to start always with high energy (like “The Hulk”...), and ending also with high energy. The reason is that you catch your audience in the first seconds of your speech and at the end; you want to put a “call to action” to your audience.


You should try planning beforehand the rhythm that you will give to your presentation. Identify clearly what will be:

-          Your exciting opening (a story, an anecdote, a non-evident fact or figures that support your message)

-          The preparation for the next peak message (“valleys” of your roller coaster). Use a slower speed here.

-          Peak points of your speech (demonstrations, surprise, etc.)

-          A high energy ending, with a call to action.