{"id":114709,"date":"2023-10-09T10:27:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T14:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=114709"},"modified":"2023-10-09T12:48:42","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T16:48:42","slug":"how-to-choose-a-topic-for-a-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-a-topic-for-a-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose a Topic for a Speech: The 2 Things to Consider"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>How do you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-a-topic-for-speech\/\">choose a topic for a speech<\/a>? When public speaking, what topics are most powerful?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you think about how to choose a topic for a speech, you should consider two things: what topics you\u2019re passionate about and what topics you\u2019re knowledgeable about. If you choose the right topic, you\u2019ll be motivated and capable of delivering a powerful speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read this article to learn about these two factors and how they impact the quality of your speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-choosing-a-speech-topic\">Choosing a Speech Topic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/public-speaking-for-success\/1-page-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Public Speaking for Success<\/em><\/a>, Dale Carnegie recommends that, when considering how to choose a topic for a speech, think of ideas that you\u2019re both passionate and knowledgeable about, as <strong>a powerful speech is one that <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/public-speaking-for-success\/1-page-summary#selecting-a-topic-and-developing-your-ideas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>blends emotion and reason<\/strong><\/a>. Your emotions will fuel and animate your speech-giving, while your rock-solid information will persuade even the most intelligent and discerning audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-be-passionate-about-your-topic\">#1: Be Passionate About Your Topic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/talk-like-ted\/1-page-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Talk Like TED<\/em><\/a>, communication coach Carmine Gallo explains additional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/talk-like-ted\/1-page-summary#content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">benefits of speaking on a topic you\u2019re passionate about<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>You\u2019ll be so excited about sharing your passion with the world that you won\u2019t feel nervous about your talk.<\/li><li>When you\u2019re passionate about something, you\u2019re likely to speak about the subject energetically. You\u2019ll be much more interesting to watch than a lackluster speaker, meaning people will be much more likely to actually pay attention to you.<\/li><li>Studies have shown that feelings are contagious. Therefore, if you exhibit deep passion when speaking about your chosen subject, your audience will emulate that passion and listen intently to what you\u2019re saying.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t get to choose your presentation topic, however, Gallo recommends you <strong>frame the topic in a way that <\/strong><strong><em>does <\/em><\/strong><strong>excite you and appeal to your passions. <\/strong>For example, if your passion is bringing added efficiency to your workplace, and you\u2019re asked to give a presentation on dull accounting software that you don\u2019t really care about, focus your presentation on how efficient the software is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-be-knowledgeable-about-your-topic\">#2: Be Knowledgeable About Your Topic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your audience will only listen to your message if they trust that you\u2019re an expert in the topic. In <a href=\"https:\/\/shortform.com\/app\/book\/the-16-undeniable-laws-of-communication\/1-page-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication<\/em><\/a>, leadership expert and speaker John C. Maxwell advises that you choose a topic you\u2019re already knowledgeable about and then go further to <a href=\"https:\/\/shortform.com\/app\/book\/the-16-undeniable-laws-of-communication#strengthen-your-credibility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>develop more expertise about the subject<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong> When you dedicate time and effort to becoming competent in your field, people will perceive you as more credible when you present your ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maxwell suggests <a href=\"https:\/\/shortform.com\/app\/book\/the-16-undeniable-laws-of-communication#strengthen-your-credibility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">additional tips<\/a> for choosing a topic that gives you credibility:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip 1: Ensure your message matches your true beliefs.<\/strong> To be credible in the eyes of others, you must genuinely believe in the message you\u2019re delivering. When you\u2019re confident in your message, you naturally use more powerful language and convey more emotion. Your audience will be more open to listening to you when they believe your words are sincere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it\u2019s important for your message to match your true beliefs, persuasion and rhetoric expert Jay Heinrichs says in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/thank-you-for-arguing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Thank You for Arguing<\/em><\/a> that it\u2019s more important to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/thank-you-for-arguing#em-ethos-em-element-1-virtue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">match the values of your audience<\/a>. When your audience believes that you share the same values as they do, they see you as someone <em>virtuous<\/em>, or trustworthy and aligned with their cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip 2: Support your words with your actions<\/strong>. Maxwell advises you to follow your own advice before giving it to others. For example, if you argue that organization is key to productivity, but you display an obvious lack of organization, your audience won\u2019t be receptive to your message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heinrichs adds that audiences almost always trust someone who shows evidence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/thank-you-for-arguing#em-ethos-em-element-3-practical-wisdom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">real-life experience over someone who has book smarts<\/a>. To make yourself seem more authoritative, you can also demonstrate your know-how by approaching a problem in an off-script way that a rookie would never think of.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do you choose a topic for a speech? When public speaking, what topics are most powerful? When you think about how to choose a topic for a speech, you should consider two things: what topics you\u2019re passionate about and what topics you\u2019re knowledgeable about. If you choose the right topic, you\u2019ll be motivated and capable of delivering a powerful speech. Read this article to learn about these two factors and how they impact the quality of your speech.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":65006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[1285],"class_list":["post-114709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communication","tag-the-master-guides-public-speaking","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Choose a Topic for a Speech: The 2 Things to Consider - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you know how to choose a topic for a speech? 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