Chapter 13:
Converting the Preparation Outline
into the Speaking Outline
Once you’ve practiced your preparation outline in front of a live audience several times and received their feedback on the clarity and power of your message, then you are ready to transfer from your preparation outline to your speaking outline. Many speakers try to skip this step, opting to use their full-sentence outline to deliver a speech. Suffice it to say, this is a mistake. Practicing from a full-sentence outline without utilizing a speaking outline leads to a memorized or partially memorized speech. Delivering one’s speech with this lesser preparation offers the speaker no wiggle room. The pressure is on to deliver the speech exactly as it is written on the outline – word for word. The result is a speech that can appear disingenuous. The audience may perceive the speaker’s delivery as “wooden”. By creating a speaking outline, you can add and include phrases and abbreviations to help you remember key points. You should also add and include things like cues for when to smile or where to pause for dramatic effect.