Published on The Metro

The prospect of public speaking can reduce the most confident and eloquent person to a bundle of nerves.

Just the idea of getting up on stage has some people gasping for air, convinced that the gods of well-timed delivery are choking them deliberately.

As such, it’s not surprising that loads of us are crap at it.

But one public speaking expert says that there are just three things to remember when it comes to delivering the perfect address.

Author Shola Kaye has just released a book called How To be A Diva At Public Speaking and she says – and they can all be found in pop songs.

Grab them with a catchy intro

Writing in Female First, Shola says that it’s the first few seconds of a song that make or break them.

‘These days, we don’t give a song much of a chance. If the intro is boring, we’re on to the next one in a flash.’

The same is with speech intro writing – don’t bore people with details you can come back to. Start with a snappy opening.

She says: ‘Don’t send them to sleep with your name, company name and why you’re there. That can come later. First, reach out and touch them with a snappy opening.’

She recommends questions, quotes, interesting stories or if you’ve got slides to hand, an unforgettable image.

‘First impressions are lasting – don’t waste your big chance to get them on your side from the start.’

Hook them with a chorus they can’t forget

Although the opening might be crucial, the most catchy part of any pop song is the chorus. That’s the bit you’re singing in the shower – the annoying phrase that won’t get out of your head.

The public speaking version of that is your ‘hook line’, your core message which you should repeat at least three or four times during your speech. Then you can become the annoying bit that someone else thinks about in the shower.

Keep it interesting by telling stories

Shola says that songs are about lead characters that we follow on a journey. And speeches should guide audiences down a similar path.

It might be a story about you or your client but whoever it’s about, it’s bound to be more interesting that reeling off a load of boring facts.

Shola concludes: ‘Next time you’re chilling with a glass of wine and relaxing to your favourite tunes, remember there’s a public speaking lesson there too! Listen, learn and take your speaking to the next level!’

See the full article on The Metro

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Hi, I’m Shola and I help you create a people-first culture. My work sits at the intersection of Inclusion, Communication & Emotional Intelligence.

My keynote talks and workshops help your leaders and employees create high-performing work environments where people feel a sense of belonging and psychological safety. Sessions are high energy, interactive, and every participant walks away with at least one practical framework for connecting and collaborating more effectively.

Sound good to you? Please reach out and let’s discuss your next event! 🙂🎤✨