A 5-Part Formula for Making a Content-Rich Speech

If you want to get and keep your audience’s attention, then follow the PARTS formula as outlined below. There is nothing worse than a speech or presentation that is disjointed, disconnected and unmemorable. There has to be a theme. Then there must be points that connect to that theme and help build a solid foundation.

P = Phrase
Always start with a theme phrase…a foundational phrase that sets the tone for the rest of the speech. All points made during the speech will be tied in some manner with this theme phrase. Keep that phrase short and direct, ten words or less.

A – Anchor
Anchors are illustrations, short stories of a sort that tie to the foundational phrase. Four anchors you can use are:

1. Anecdote (a story)
2. Activity
3. Analogy
4. Acronym

The point is to have your audience remember the anchor because then they will not forget the point that is attached to the foundational anchor. That means they won’t forget the anchor either.

R = Reflection
This is achieved by asking questions of the audience which, in turn, gets each person to think back on what would be the answer, based on past experiences or suppositions. It may be a matter of having the audience consider how much better life would be if they were using the product or service in their own lives.

You can ask a question at the beginning of the section, such as “Why do you think you don’t achieve millionaire status year after year in your business goals?” That gets the audience thinking about why they don’t make that status. As you move along in your speech, you can ask the question “Are you afraid of succeeding and therefore, you sabotage yourself?” After showing examples of that point, you might conclude with asking the first question again of your audience. The purpose of that is now they may be thinking a different way about why they were failing their goal.

T = Technique
At this point, you will not only want your audience to think, but to also implement ways to achieving that goal. You must give your audience the tools that help them visualize their goals rather than just thinking about them. Have them outline in writing the perfect job, the perfect day, the perfect husband or wife. This better defines the image and makes it more real for the audience members.

S =Sale
Now you are selling the message, which was your goal from the very beginning. You can say, “Now that you are writing down what makes the perfect job, you are into the first steps towards making that your upcoming reality.” You can create and do what you envision.