Do you work, belong to a community group or share time with family and friends? If you do, then you will be engaged in persuasion some of the time. What skills do you need for effective persuasion? Below are some tips for you. What is a persuasive speech? A persuasive speech is one which is used to change, reinforce or create attitudes and behaviour. Your aim is to educate and convince, or motivate an audience to do something. You are trying to sway the audience to adopt your viewpoint. A persuasive speech tells the audience: • Here is what I want you to do • This is why I want you to do it • I feel this way because . . . Effective persuasion uses accurate logic, appeals to emotions and involves trust.

What is an informative speech? An informative speech is one which informs the audience by introducing a new topic or makes the audience more knowledgeable on a familiar topic. It intends to educate the audience on a particular subject. Content considerations Informative speeches can be about objects, processes, events and concepts. Your topic must be appropriate for your audience and aim to increase the audience’s knowledge or present new subject matter.

All speeches carry a message, so you need to know the purpose of your speech. Is it to inform, persuade, motivate, entertain or perhaps have a combination of these?

Short notice speeches and impromptu speeches There are many situations in our everyday lives when we may be called upon to speak at short notice or speak immediately. You could be at work, speaking to retail staff or a bank manager. You may be speaking to a stranger at the supermarket. Wherever you are, you can practice spontaneous and short notice speaking. The definition of short notice speaking is when you have some warning before you need to speak. Impromptu speaking is when you speak immediately, completely ‘off the cuff’. Don’t panic! There are techniques which can be used in these situations to make them manageable and, in fact, enjoyable.