How do you memorise a speech? A speech delivered without referring to notes is a hallmark of good preparation. Often in my toastmasters meetings, speakers would prepare for their Big Moment by reading their notes. Sometimes I caught glimpses of their notes involuntarily. Lines after lines of tiny words. It was the speech pruned to perfection. If the notes is written in that manner, I assume that they are memorised word for word. I wonder, is that the best way to memorise or to prepare for a speech?

A 5 minute long speech is about 500 words long. That is assuming you speak at the average rate which is 100-175 words per minute. 500 words? Bah. That’s easy. Chicken feed. Child’s play. Most can do it. But what if your speech takes longer? An hour perhaps? Which means you got to memorise 6000 words. Maybe you’re blessed with fantastic memory. But I’m not. Memorising is hard work. I’d prefer not to if I had a choice. So how do you memorise a speech?

The trick is Not to memorise word for word. Memorise the key points. when you’re on stage, articulate those points in your own words there and then. That is how I prepared for my toastmasters speeches.

Why does it work?

Why do you memorise word for word? It is because you are seized by The Fear Of Forgetfulness. You are afraid that your mind will turn blank at the Big Moment. But memorising word for word doesn’t help. It hinders you instead.

When you’re chained by The Word-For-Word, you’ll feel a pressure to deliver the speech in its exact entirety. No margin for error whatsoever. What if you forget? You’ll go into panic because you do not know how to link to the next point. Your speech will be disjointed. Your audience will wonder, “What the hell is he saying?” That is the biggest danger of The Word-For-Word. One mistake and you lose the connection from point to point. When you’re using The Word-For-Word, you are reciting from memory. There is no room for spontaneity. Remember. You are trying to get ideas across in a speech. You are not in a competition to see who can memorise a 500 word essay and deliver it to an audience.

If there is nothing to remember, there is nothing to forget. You’re freeing yourself. Only by freeing yourself, then your emotion and enthusiasm can come across to your audience. This is an example of the Pareto Principle, where the most important 20% is your main points. Another helpful point is to organise your points so that it flows smoothly.

Of course, dont forget to practice! There is no substitute for practice.