Much like “body language,” the “delivery” of your keynote presentation is what will determine whether you’re the type of professional speaker that will be able to develop long term followers of your message.
Too often speakers rarely recognize the importance of specified intonations, the pregnant pause, that “look” that tells the audience more than words could ever convey and how you make the best use of timing techniques.
It is best to practice these concepts until you are extremely comfortable with them. I took a class with the amazing John Cantu, the founder of the Holy City Zoo where Robin Williams had his debut in comedy. I was born without a single funny bone in my body. Yet when I told Mr. Cantu about my childhood, he encouraged me to try doing stand-up comedy. As far as I was concerned, my life was not funny!
Yet humor is a fundamental component of a motivational speaker’s tool kit. When you can laugh at yourself and your life stories, your audience will relate to you in a way that will keep them wanting more. That’s the ultimate goal of all speakers.
Your delivery should be so well practiced, it looks spontaneous.
Sharyn Abbott 
September 10, 2009 at 8:44 am
Sharyn,
You raise a number of good points about delivery. Too often, poor delivery detracts in a significant manner from what is otherwise a well prepared and structured speech.
Maintaining eye contact with the audience; using gestures to emphasize key points; moving smoothly across the speaking platform; pausing for effect (and to let your audience absorb what you have said) – all these and more are important aspects of public speaking that will make your speeches and presentations memorable.
Cheers!
John Zimmer
http://mannerofspeaking.wordpress.com/
February 21, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Hi John
Great job on your blog – we should talk live and see how we might help each other!
Sharyn 925 939-1801 http://www.sharynabbott.wordpress.com