How to Write a Speech With Purpose

Every speech has a purpose, and “getting through it” should not be yours. But if you haven’t taken the time to determine why you’re giving your speech, that may be all you can hope for. And your audience may wonder if they’ll make it to the end as well.

Determining what you want to accomplish is so critical that “Writing a Speech With Purpose” is the first project after the Ice Breaker in every Pathways path. It helps you connect with your audience, whether you want to inform, persuade, or entertain them. “Whatever your goal,” the Pathways project introduction advises, “the first step is to write a speech that has meaning, not only for you, but for every member of your audience.”

It’s not enough to care about your topic; you have to make the audience care about it, too. It’s all about reaching them, and defining your purpose will help you serve your listeners throughout the presentation. If you decide to persuade, you must present arguments that speak to the audience’s interests in order for them to believe you. If you decide to entertain, you must tell a story that resonates with them.

Your speech will have one of five purposes: to inform, persuade, entertain, inspire, or motivate. And yes, inspiring and motivating are indeed two different concepts. Inspiration is more emotional and internal; you might inspire someone to feel a general sense of purpose in reaching their goals. Motivation is more external and action-oriented, pushing the listener to take immediate steps toward a specific goal.

Write With Purpose

Follow these three steps to plan and write your speech:

1. Select a topic. This must happen before you determine your speech’s purpose. If you decide first that you want to inspire an audience, for instance, you may find yourself forcing the topic into your preconceived purpose. Instead, search your memory for experiences you want to share: funny stories, lessons you learned from a relationship, insights into an important issue. What is it about that topic that makes you want to talk about it? Figure out your “what” and then find the “why.”
2. Determine the purpose. Decide why you want to share your topic with the audience and what you want them to do with your message—take action, learn information, laugh at a funny story? Before you begin writing the speech, Pathways recommends answering these three questions: What is the most important thing I want to say? Why does it matter to the audience? What do I want people to hold in their hearts and minds long after my speech?
3. Organize and write. All speeches must be logically organized with an opening, body, and conclusion. Most experts recommend limiting your ideas to three main thoughts, with supporting points for each. But if you have a specific purpose, it’s even more important to scrutinize every statement and ensure it supports your intent.

Beyond the Lectern

The skills you learn in writing and delivering a speech with purpose will continue serving you after you come out from behind the lectern. From elevator pitches to impromptu comments in business meetings, you’ll know how to get to the point and hold your listeners’ attention, which is what it’s always about.

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