
Here’s my breakdown of the time it takes to be fully prepared to step on stage to deliver your keynote address: (This doesn’t include building the slide deck or practicing the speech). Duarte recommends you spend 30 hours on content creation for a 1-hour speech. Nancy Duarte, the author of Resonate, works with industry giants on their keynote speeches. Feeling completely ready in the days leading up to the event is worth it. They’re always glad they invested a good amount of time. I have never had a client tell me, “I wish I had spent less time preparing my keynote.” How Much Time Should You Devote to Preparation? Throughout the whole speech, she tapped back into her key message of resilience. Then she revealed how she solved these problems and the benefits that transpired. She spoke candidly about the problems she had come up against in her career. These stories showed her drive to succeed. She told funny, heart-wrenching stories, including some stories which were excruciating for her at the time they happened. How did this key message turn into a speech? Going back to my example, the key message of my client who keynoted at the tech conference was resilience. Take the time to learn about what your audience wants to know. Think of this as a research project as much as an exercise in empathy.

What Makes a Keynote Speech Compelling and Memorable?Īn engaging, inspiring keynote encourages the audience to envision what they are capable of.

Your speech can be complex and include unanticipated twists and turns, while of course staying on track with your core message. You have the time to invite your audience along through the ups and downs, ins and outs of a storyline. Unlike a shorter presentation, keynote addresses give you a brilliant opportunity to go deep and show the breadth of your expertise. Knowing when you’ll be speaking (at the beginning or at the end of the event) impacts the type of keynote speech you should create.Ī keynote speaker is usually given a substantial amount of time to speak, often 45 to 60 minutes. Other times the keynote is scheduled near the beginning of an event, and in this case the role of the keynote speaker is to set the tone. Scheduling the keynote for the end of the event builds excitement and anticipation. The theme of a keynote is usually set by the event’s theme.įor multi-day events like conferences the keynote is often (but not always) scheduled on the last day. Large events often leverage the keynote speaker to attract attendees. What To Do Before You Deliver Your SpeechĪ keynote speech stands above other public speaking opportunities because event organizers make it the highlight of the agenda.Tips For Creating Your Slidedeck or PowerPoint Presentation.Brainstorm with an open mind and big wall Planning a Keynote Speech: Who is your audience? What is your intention?.

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The conference organizers asked her to share her perspective with young women new to the field to help them navigate the inevitable difficulties of being a woman in tech-and also give them advice on how to enjoy the ride. Although she loves her job, at times her career has been rough. She’s a seasoned leader in an industry with few female colleagues. This was her first high-stakes conference opportunity.

A client of mine recently was asked to deliver the keynote address at a large women’s tech event. Being invited to deliver a keynote address is a great honor.
