30 minutes, a stage, and a crowd waiting to be enlightened. Delivering a keynote speech is on a completely different level than reading off the back of an envelope.
It takes great confidence and greater preparation to shine brighter than the spotlight you’re in. The Events Production Company has hosted a plethora of corporate event programs involving keynote speeches in the Middle East and Africa.
Here are some tips we have gathered over the last decade.
Remember what your speech’s core message is
Keynote speeches can be anything from 20 to 45 minutes, with most of them averaging to approximately 30 minutes. That’s a daunting amount of solo time on stage having a one-way conversation with a room full of strangers. A handy tip to follow at your next event is to divide your speech into an intro, body, and conclusion. This will give your speech structure, making it easier to both write and deliver. Save the fleshier chunks of your speech for the body and remember to stick to the point. Everyone loves a good anecdote but be mindful of its relevance to your speech.
Transform yourself from a keynote speaker to a storyteller
You’re more likely to grasp and maintain your audience’s attention at your next event if you keep your speech “human”. Statistics and graphs are great but ensure your keynote speech has a personal touch by enhancing it with some relatable anecdotes.
Gather your audience around a hypothetical fire and form a relationship with them using the power of storytelling. Instead of feeding them data, engage your audience’s emotions. For a memorable impression, polish it off with some humour.
Engage your audience’s mind through their eyes
The timeless quote “a picture says a thousand words” needs no introduction. Visual information is processed 60,000 times faster in the brain than text. All you need to do is refer to the success of YouTube and Instagram for evidence. Complement your speech with striking visuals and make the impact you want. Keep your speech colourful, catchy, and concise and your audience is sure to demand an encore!
The Event Production Company is an award-winning event management agency that specializes in Live Events, Employee Engagement, Exhibitions and Conference Management throughout the Middle East and North Africa. We have a wealth of experience organizing corporate events for a range of notable brands.
