Once in a while, everyone needs to stand in front of a group of people and say something. This is usually called a speech. Nowadays, we are living in a so-called 'knowledge society'. This means that the old production factors (capital, labor, and raw materials) have been replaced by new factors: information, knowledge, and communication. The most obvious example of the rise of the knowledge society is the internet and the world- wide-web. These new factors have all been made possible by the invention of the computer. This has created a great impact on work itself. Work on the factory floor, in the office, even in the hotel has changed dramatically. In the old days, work revolved around specialized functions. Today, work revolves around teams and processes. A worker will not just have the job of installing the same door handle over and over again. He or she will belong to a multifunctional team, one that manages its own budget and control its own quality.

One of the most important consequences of these changes is the ability of persuading one another about new ideas. Success in a company does not depend on position, title and authority anymore. It depends on tapping into sources of good ideas, on figuring out whose collaboration is needed to act on those ideas, and on working with both to produce results. In short, the new managerial work implies very different ways of obtaining and using power. Managers in the new organization will have to win respect and commitment of highly trained and empowered employees. And this can only be done by good public speaking skills. But how can one become a good public speaker? Preparation is the answer!

No matter which style of speech is chosen - informative, persuasive, and entertaining - one must still plan and prepare in a way that is relevant to the audience. The following six steps are always necessary:

1. Define the purpose

Define the speech's purpose, intended aim, or desired result. Communicate directly to the audience. Aim to catch the audience's attention and interest. Once the purpose is defined, the presentation itself should develop to help the listener understand the message.

2. Analyze the audience

Analyze the audience: their experience, age, interest and reason for listening to the presentation. It is important to know these details so that the presentation will suit the needs, interests, and level of knowledge of the receivers. If all of this is not known, the mistake of providing material that is too basic or too difficult might happen. Worse even, the audience might be confronted with information which does not meet its needs or interests. It is, of course, easier to talk to a group of people with similar levels of skills or backgrounds than to a diverse group.

3. Consider the context and setting

Always realize the context or situation and deliver a presentation in a manner appropriate to that situation. The context may be an informal gathering of colleagues or a very formal public presentation. The situation or context will impact on the preparation and delivery of the material. It is always important to take this into account.

4. Identify the main ideas

During the planning and organizing the main ideas, focus on the central purpose of the speech. The audience will only have one chance to hear the spoken ideas. For this reason, the ideas need to be ordered logically and in a way that is easy to understand. Consider the main ideas in terms of the message. Check that they link together and cover all the areas the audience need to hear about to understand the presentation purpose. Structure the presentation into an outline that both highlights the main ideas and organize them clearly and logically for the audience.

5. Research

Research and investigation are necessary to find facts, evidence and supporting documentation. However, use to present objective, impartial point of view that supports and develops the ideas in the outline.

6. Plan

As you develop the outline of the main ideas into a presentation, focus on your main purpose. Organize the presentation to achieve this purpose and to suit the needs of the speaker, as well as the needs of the audience. This helps to present the material clearly, and makes it easy for the audience to understand the presentation. When one has a clearly organized plan and a thorough understanding of the main ideas one wishes to cover, the delivery will appear relaxed and confident.