Winning Student Leadership Election Speeches

3 Tips to Guide Candidates to Success

Giving a great student leadership election speech can make a massive difference to a student’s chances of being elected. One may possess all the desired qualities to do a great job but fall at the most important election hurdle –giving a winning speech.

The following student-friendly strategies, developed over more than 20 years as a professional speaker, will help every student give a winning student leadership election speech.

1. Simplify Design

Speech design is the trickiest part for most students. The best student election speech follows a structure, which stops rambling and provides guideposts for listeners to follow. Listeners, like travellers, feel comfortable when they know where they are going, so structure is confidencebuilding for the audience as well as the speaker.

There are many structures or frameworks for presentations, but perhaps the simplest and best structure for students is to follow the Rule of 3. This rule is that the talk has an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Within each section, three points are made. Students should spend more time on the body of the talk than the introduction or conclusion since that is where the substance lies.

Introduction

The job of the introduction is to get the audience’s attention, let them know what they will hear and introduce the speaker. Students can grab attention with a very short story or anecdote; make a bold statement about being a leader or say something funny or humorous. They should also let people know who they are, briefly outlining any leadership experience they may have had. Then they can signal what they will cover in the remainder of the speech.

Body

The Rule of 3 applies in the body of the speech as well. Students should give three compelling reasons why they can do the leadership job the best. The reasons can relate to some or all of the following:

• Character - Mention honesty, kindness, reliability.

• Competency – One might mention being a good organiser, good teammate, or that they have great ideas.

• Contribution - What would one do if elected, what causes would be supported, what one would do well.

Conclusion

In the last part of the talk, students should remind people why they’d do a good job, how they will contribute and that they deserve to be voted for– a final call to action. Students can put their main points on cue cards and use them when they practise. Cue cards should fit into the palm of their hands, so they aren’t distracting to listeners.

2. Prioritise Practice

Practice may not make perfect, but it can ease nerves and make the talk the more memorable. The best way to practise is to speak using the cue cards in front of a mirror or a wall.

Students shouldn’t try to memorise the talk word for word, instead know what they want to say. Knowing the first sentence helps students start confidently, which does wonders for their nerves and builds self-confidence.

Parents and teachers should ask students to tell them about their talk. “So, Gemma, what are you going to tell these students tomorrow?” quietly five minutes before a talk and focus fully on the task at hand. They can practise mindfulness and deep breathing techniques to clear the nerves and shut down the mental chatter.

When it’s time to give the presentation, your student should walk confidently to the centre of the stage or speaking space, stand still with two feet shoulders length apart, scan their eyes across the audience and begin speaking with a smile on their face.

Encourage students to pause and take a breath when they look at their notes. If possible, they should resume talking with a smile. Staying calm and confident when speaking without projecting arrogance is one of the most persuasive actions a student can make.

Speaking in public is a game of bluff. Students who can deal with nerves and put self-doubt aside have a head start when trying to persuade others to vote for them. Good presentation design, practising the right things and knowing how to calmly approach the speaking space in order to deliver the presentation are key to helping students put their best feet forward and deliver talks that win the day.

“I’m going to tell people that I have lots of leadership experience. I’ll talk about the time I was a Guide leader at camp

and what I did to help. I’m then going to cover…..”

Going over the main points prior to delivery aids recall and ensures students focus on the big picture rather than minor details when they speak.

Encourage students to practise confident body language prior to giving their presentation. Many potentially great student talks have been ruined by fidgeting fingers, fumbling feet and an inability to stand up straight. Encourage them to practise confident body language until it becomes automatic.

3. Deliver Presentation

Negative or cloudy thinking are huge obstacles for many students prior to giving a talk. I always advise students to sit

Michael Grose is one of Australia’s most respected experts on parenting and bringing schools and parents together. He’s also the founder of Parenting Ideas, one of Australia’s most trusted sources of parenting education and resources for schools. Michael is a former primary school teacher with 15 years of experience. Michael continues to help teachers, students and parents through a collection of resources designed specifically for school communities.

Find out more at parentingideas.com.au