Persuasive Speeches: How to Write & Deliver a Persuasive Speech

A persuasive speech is actually very simple to create and deliver.

If you want to write a persuasive speech, this article is going to give you the tools you need to persuade any audience or group.

Here are the major elements you must incorporate into your speech if you want to persuade any group:

PAIN
A persuasive speech paints a picture and tells a story - a story of pain.

Pain that your group wants to avoid at all costs.

Pain they can relate to.

Pain such as fear of present or future loss.

Pinpoint your groups' fears before you start writing your speech. Do whatever you have to do to get 100% clear about their fears and pain. Incorporate that into your speech and make them feel that pain and fear.

Telling stories is the easiest way to accomplish this in your speech.

PROOF
Any persuasive speech is going to provide irrefutable proof that what's being said is 100% true.

Look for facts, data and statistics that support what you're saying.

The more authoritative the source of those facts data and statistics is the more persuaded your group will be.

Find facts data and statistics that come from well respected organizations such as governmental, trade groups, and industry associations.

AUTHORITY
The great thing about using authority to persuade people is that this doesn't have to be your authority!

Borrow authority from others by quoting experts by name and their expertise will be transferred over to you.

Why? Because the group is convinced that you've done your research and you know your stuff.

If you have expertise and authority, you can stand on your own, but you can also enhance your authority - and therefore your ability to persuade - by quoting other experts and authorities as well.

TESTIMONIALS
Testimonials are one of the most persuasive tools you can use.

Social Psychologists call this "social proof" and their research shows that people are strongly influenced by what other people think, feel, and do.

Read testimonials from people, but be sure to get their permission first.

Video testimonials are even stronger and are easily incorporated into a PowerPoint presentation.

SUMMARY AND SUPER-IMPORTANT BONUS TIP:
A persuasive speech will incorporate the elements of pain, proof, authority, and testimonials so simply weave these elements into various places of your speech.

But before you sit down to create your persuasive speech, be clear about what you want to accomplish in the first place!-then just work backwards from there.

In other words, what exactly are you trying to persuade your group to do? Are you trying to win their hearts? Win their minds? Win their wallets?

Whatever it is, you must be crystal clear about this before you create your persuasive speech.