Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, I was about to step to the platform to address an energetic audience.  I was talking with a friend about the content of my presentation when the event coordinator interrupted our conversation.  He dismissed my friend with a demeaning comment and asked, “Are you going to wear “THAT” outfit  to the platform? His eyebrows were raised in obvious disgusted annoyance.  I was wearing new jeans, a shirt and a sport coat.  It was the jeans that incurred his wrath.

His condescending tone flipped a switch deep inside my soul.  My response was instantaneous, clever, profoundly logical, and……… totally inappropriate,  but my lips were already moving and I spit the words out with vengeance.

The feedback from hundreds of our students over the years confirms that speaking with focus and purpose transforms their effectiveness as a communicator. According to Steven Covey, the second habit of highly effective people is “Begin with the end in mind.” As we begin our Dynamic Communicators Workshop in Glorieta NM this week we will be re-enforcing that truth over and over. Many speakers never consider the “end,” the ultimate purpose for which they are giving their talk. Instead they agonize over a list of “things” they want to say and how to organize that list.

Here is a short list for preparing your next speech. Following these procedures will give your speech more focus and power.