A great speech isn’t just written well, it’s performed with skill, energy, and presence.

The most compelling speakers can make even the simplest message feel powerful. They don’t just speak; they connect with tone, timing, and a strong sense of self.

Whether you’re stepping up to speak for the first time or fine-tuning your final delivery, here’s how to bring your words to life and make sure your audience doesn’t just hear your message - they feel it.

Let’s break it down with the 5 Ps of powerful speech delivery.

How to deliver a speech that actually sounds good and engages the listener.

The most compelling speakers can turn even the dullest subject into something engaging and they do it by skilfully applying these five Ps.

Pitch

Emotional expression: Pitch variations can directly convey emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, or surprise, allowing the audience to better understand the speaker’s intent.
Audience engagement: Monotonous pitches are boring, but varying your pitch keeps the audience alert and interested.
Credibility and authority: A steady, controlled, lower pitch is often perceived as confident and authoritative.
Emphasis and force: Raising your pitch on specific words or phrases can highlight important points and draw attention to key ideas within the speech.
Structure and transition: Changes in pitch can signal transitions between different sections or indicate the end of a thought.

Pace

Varying speed: Don’t speak at the same pace throughout your speech. Strategically speed up to convey excitement and slow down to emphasise key points.
Adapting to the audience: Consider the audience’s familiarity with the topic and adjust your pace accordingly.

Pause

Embrace the silence: It’s fine to take a moment to gather your thoughts before speaking. Silent moments always feel longer to you than they do to the audience.
Pause for effect: Pausing before or after saying something important adds drama and impact.

Projection
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Clarity: Projecting your voice allows your audience to hear and understand you more easily.
Managing intensity: It's not just about shouting or straining your voice to be louder - projection involves controlled volume and clarity.
Build confidence: Projecting your voice not only elevates your presence as a speaker but also gives you natural authority, helping your audience feel confident in what you're saying and keeping their attention.

Personality

Adding Emotion: Personality refers to the colour, warmth and meaning that comes from hearing your voice. Adding emotion will give more impact and authenticity. A smile goes a long way.
Variation: Personality can vary from passionate to serious to light. There might be opportunities in your speech to change the emotions you express.