A first conference speech as Prime Minister is a big moment. So when Andy Burnham walked on stage in Liverpool for Labour's conference, there was plenty riding on it. Not least because he'd only been in the job for a few weeks. Putting any hints of policy to one side, let's look at the technique. Because this was a well-built, well-delivered platform speech, and there's a lot here you can borrow for your own conference speech.
Deliver Your Conference Speech: Top Tips
Top Tips to Help You Deliver Your Speech
Tip 1: Arrive
Your speech begins before you say a word. Mr Burnham walked on to music, but not the Farm singing All Together Now. Perhaps that might have been too corny! Whatever, this set the mood and gave the hall something to do. So think about your own entrance. Ask your organiser about music, lighting and where you walk on from.
Tip 2: Acknowledge
Before he began, he picked out people in the audience, pointed and waved. It looks relaxed. It also tells the room that you're among friends. You can do the same with a smile and some eye contact for the faces you know. It will settle you!
Tip 3: Open
After his thank-yous, he went straight to his theme: "All Together Now. That's my rallying call to the country today." No preamble, no warm-up. Your audience should know your big idea in the first minute.
Tip 4: Repetition
Repetition is the conference speaker's best friend. "We will…" and "I believe…" ran right through this speech, building rhythm and helping the audience keep up. Pick the phrase that carries your message and use it more than once.
Tip 5: Take a Position with a Position Statement
Here's a classic device. You describe a state of affairs, then you say where you stand. Mr Burnham noted that older people with little more than the state pension can find themselves paying care charges. Then: "Under my plan, this will no longer happen." Problem, then position. It's a reliable way to earn applause.
Tip 6: Pause
A pause gives your audience time to take in your point. It also gives them room to applaud, as we noted in How You Can Prepare For Your Applause Point. So finish your line, then stop. Let the silence do some work.
Tip 7: Slow Down
This was an unhurried delivery. Short sentences helped: "Homes. Water. Energy. Transport. Care. Broken up and sold off." Long sentences punish both speaker and audience, so write short and speak slowly.
Tip 8: Read Well
He used the autocue very well. His head was up, his eyes moved across the hall and there was no sense of a man reading. That only comes with rehearsal. If you have an autocue, practise with the operator until the script feels like speech.
Tip 9: Finish
His close was built from four dates: "1945. 1964. 1997. Now." That's four beats and one clear message, that this is a moment in a longer story.
All Together Now.
We can do it.
We will believe again.
We will hope again.
Your ending is what your audience takes home, so plan it as carefully as your opening.
It wasn't a perfect performance. There's more to say about movement and voice, but that's for another day. On the technicalities, though, this was a conference speech that worked.
How to Give a Conference Speech
These pointers should equip you fully to give your next conference speech.
For more public speaking and presentation tips, you'll find our full series here. And when you're ready to sharpen your own public speaking skills, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
OUR CONTACT DETAILS
Phone Number
01344 859823
Email Address
training@timetomarket.co.uk
Training | Coaching | Online Courses | Seminars | Tips | Podcasts | Videos
