HOW TO FIND YOUR SPEECH TOPIC?
Are you going to give a speech soon?
Did someone invited you to give a speech and you are free to talk about anything you want?
Or do you have a Toastmasters meeting coming up and it is your turn to give a speech?
What will your speech topic be?
Are you still thinking about it?
Maybe you are still looking for one?
You are still not sure where to get some ideas for your speech topic?
In
my humble opinion…
Before
you find your speech topic, please remember these:
a)Always talk about something that you know very well.
It will be easier for you to
talk about it and it shows your credibility because you know exactly what you
are talking about.
b)Find a topic that people will be interested to listen to.
No matter how strong you feel about any
topic, you need to consider other people’s interest in the topic as well
because they will be your listeners.
C)Understand your speech purpose
Speech purpose means why do
you want to give a speech? What are your objectives? Know your
reasons in delivering your speech. Is it to motivate others? Do you want to
persuade people to try new things? Or do you wish to spread some knowledge?
Now, how to find your speech topic?
Here
are some useful guidelines that may help you.
Well,
just in case you are still searching for a topic.
If
you are still looking for something to talk about, the first thing you must do
is ask yourself this question.
“What do I know?”
Your
speech topic can be based on:
1)Your own expertise/skills and knowledge.
What
do you do for a living? Do you have any expertise and knowledge of certain
topics? Do you possess any skill? You can always find suitable topics from your
line of work. We all should share our skills and knowledge with others.
For
instance, if you are a human resource manager, you can talk about topics like
recruitment, training and development or compensation. If you are a karate
champion, you can speak about the martial arts techniques.
2)You own experience.
‘Speakers who talk
about what life has taught them never fail to keep the attention of their
listeners’.
-Dale Carnegie-
Your
speech topic can also be based on your own life experience. Did you go through
any unique experience? Do you have an interesting real story to tell? Perhaps
an adventure? An incident?
Maybe
you have traveled to a fascinating destination? Climbed the Mount Everest? Won
the World Karate Championships? Were you involved in any rescue mission?
You
can also talk about everyday experience like how you looked after your
children when they were small, how you learned to cook for the first time, your weekly fishing trip
or how you lose weight.
3)Your beliefs/a great cause
‘The only
reason to give a speech is to change the world’
-John F.
Kennedy-
The
best speech topic is a topic that is close to your heart. You can find a speech
topic based on something that you practice every day. Something that you truly believe
in. Something that you usually do for a great cause.
For example,
if you are an environmentalist, you can share with others about the importance
of recycling, the global warming or the greenhouse effect.
If
you are someone who believe in the world peace, you can talk about your ideas and
views on how to make the earth a better place to live in or why war should be
avoided.
4)Your passion or hobbies
Tell
me. Are you passionate about something? Is there anything you love to do? Do
you have any hobby that is worth sharing? Do you have something you cannot stop
talking about?
Are
you an artist? Are you a dancer? Do you like gardening? Are you musically
talented? Are you a sports lover? Do you bake? Do you like to write? Are you a
collector? Do you enjoy teaching children? Are you passionate about helping
others?
Your
passion or hobbies can definitely make an interesting speech topic.
The truth is…
Your choices are endless. There is always something you can talk about. Finding the right speech topic is not difficult. Everyone has something to share. Everyone has a different story. You just need to open up your mind, listen to your heart and be a little creative.
You will find your speech topic in no time :-)
Written by: Intan Salwana Anis
@2019 Public Speaking Is Cool. All Rights Reserved.