Quora Answer: As a Public Speaker, How Do You Stay on Track When You Have Other Things on Your Mind?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “As a public speaker, what do you do to stay on track when you have other things on your mind?” 

This is not a chat with the neighbours over the fence, holding a cup of tea, while we tell them our opinions on random topics.  If you feel this need to talk about whatever you have on your mind, you are not a public speaker; you are simply speaking in public.  Public speaking is an art as well as a discipline.  When we speak, there is an objective, an intent. 

Every public speech has a specific theme.  This is normally tailored to address the needs and concerns of the audience.  The speech begins with an opening statement, a broad brush of the intent of the speech, and the parameters of address.  The speech then goes onto details on specific points that need to be elaborated.  There is narrative pacing, examples to personalise it, and strategic use of rhetorical devices to elicit the appropriate response.  A good speech does not cover more than three points.  This is not the reading of a policy paper, or a research paper.  It then ends with a summation of points and a call to action.  If the speech is crafted properly, there is no avenue for the speaker to go off message.