How you say something is often as important as what you say.

Lesli, a student in a political science class, just finished delivering an oral presentation of her essay advocating more fiscal conservatism in the federal government. An experienced writer, she had structured her speech clearly and concisely. In just eight minutes, she commented on a wide range of issues—including federal income taxes, entitlement programs, and the national debt. She had carefully outlined her speech and delivered it using a small stack of note cards. She also used several helpful visual aids, such as charts showing government spending on various social programs.

Though Lesli had worked hard to develop a well-organized speech, she received only a B− from her instructor. When she asked why, her professor explained that though the content of the speech was excellent, her delivery—the combination of verbal and nonverbal communication skills used to present the speech—was less than ideal. The instructor explained that Lesli had spoken too fast and in a monotone, and she had fussed too much with her note cards. In addition, she had turned her back on her audience while pointing to and discussing her visual aids.

Lesli’s experience reveals a major lesson for all public speakers: how you say something can be as important as what you say. Why is effective delivery so crucial in public speaking? It helps make your speech compelling and memorable. In an age when audience members may be easily distracted by their many responsibilities, even the most carefully researched and clearly organized talk may not be enough to hold their attention. Speakers today need every advantage they can get to capture—and keep—their listeners’ interest. Skillful delivery can give you that edge. Think about it: in your lifetime, you may have listened to dozens or even hundreds of speeches. Of these, how many did you find truly memorable? And what made them so outstanding? If you’re like most people, you’ll realize that the best speech you’ve ever heard not only contained valuable ideas but was delivered in a way that held your attention and had you remembering the speech long after it was over.

In fact, delivery is what comes to mind for most people when they think about speechmaking. Though audience analysis, research, preparation, and practice all play vital roles in public speaking, it’s how you deliver your speech that determines whether you’ll be effective with your audience members.

In this chapter, we discuss speech delivery—focusing on the various ways you can present a speech as well as the verbal and nonverbal skills you need to deliver a powerful, evocative, and exciting presentation.