How to Get a Standing Ovation

It’s not just about delivering a great speech; it’s about connecting with your audience on a deeper level.

I want to share some insights on how to get a standing ovation, drawing from my own experiences, including my recent commencement speech at UC Santa Cruz. Whether you’re giving a keynote, a presentation, or a commencement address, the principles of engaging and inspiring your audience remain the same.

If you want to watch the youtube video of my speech, you can find it here!

Have Something to Say

This is the “duhism” of making speeches. You can only get a standing ovation if you have something meaningful to say. Do a critical assessment and determine if you do. If you don’t, decline the opportunity. Why damage your reputation when you don’t have to? Here are tips to ensure you have something to say:

• Work backwards from the audience. De-prioritize what you want to say. Prioritize, instead, what the audience the audience wants to, or needs to, hear.

• Scrutinize yourself. Ask the simple question, “Would you want to sit through, much less standing ovate, your speech?”

• Seek tough love. Bounce your topic off a group of friends of who care for you enough to tell you the truth. You do have friends like this, right? If not, get some asap.

Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is crucial. Before my speech, I conducted a LinkedIn poll to gauge what people remembered from their commencement addresses. The results were eye-opening: 77% of respondents could not remember the key message of their commencement speech.

I also submitted a draft of the speech to the provost of the school, and he reviewed it with the graduation committee. I also reviewed several other commencement addresses to see what others have done. This preparation helped me tailor my message to be more memorable and impactful.

Do Your Homework

One of the critical aspects of delivering a memorable speech is preparation. For my commencement address at UC Santa Cruz, I wrote out my speech word-for-word and rehearsed it multiple times.

This level of preparation ensures that you are confident and can deliver your message effectively. But don’t fret—I didn’t memorize the speech not did I use a teleprompter. I had a paper copy of the speech on stage with me to refer to but didn’t read it.

Craft a Single, Memorable Message

My singular message was…“Always ask, ‘What’s missing?’” This simple yet profound question encourages critical thinking and analysis to prevent going astray. By concentrating on a single, memorable message, you increase the likelihood that the audience will remember and reflect on your words long after the event. As Steve Jobs used to say, “Less is more.”

Engage with Stories

Personal stories are a powerful tool to connect with your audience. During my speech, I shared insights from remarkable people on my podcast, including Jane Goodall, Steve Wozniak, and Neil deGrasse Tyson. These stories not only illustrated my points but also made the speech more relatable and engaging.

Make People Laugh and Relate

Incorporating humor and relatable content can significantly enhance your speech. For instance, early in the speech, I noted that there are only two kinds of commencement speakers: those who want a standing ovation and those who are lying. This light-hearted approach helps to break the ice and make the audience more receptive to your message.

Work the Crowd BEFORE the Speech

Most speakers want to be left alone before a speech so that they can focus, achieve calmness, and check their text messages. I circulate with the crowd—especially the people in the front few rows because when I look out over the audience I want to see people who are smiling at me and want me to succeed.

Start “In the Moment”

I like to start a speech with an observation, comment, or story that is clearly not canned or rehearsed. This can be something in the news, a sports event, traffic. or something that happened before you took the podium—anything that’s obviously here and now.

At my commencement address there was a student dressed as a wizard, so I had him stand up to show everyone his outfit. No one was thinking, “Oh, that’s his canned opening. A wizard is in the front row of all his speeches.” A good test is that if people see you speak more than once, they don’t think you give the same speech every time.

Get a Small Room

This is something I could not control for the commencement speech, but a big factor in achieving a standing ovation is the level of excitement in the room, and a big factor in the level of excitement is how crowded the room is. To wit, let’s say there will be 250 people in the audience.

It’s much better to have 250 people in a 200-person room (standing room only!) than 250 people in a 500 person room—fire codes not withstanding. The room is often out of your control, but if you can, get a room that’s smaller the predicted audience size. And if that’s not possible. ask for classroom (table and chairs) seating as opposed to theatre (chairs only) seating.

And ask that the doors be closed—you don’t want any excitement to leak out of the room.

Conclusion

Getting a standing ovation is not just about delivering a great speech; it’s about connecting with your audience on a deeper level. By preparing thoroughly, understanding your audience, focusing on a single memorable message, and engaging with personal stories and humor, you can create a remarkable and unforgettable experience.

Check Out My Latest

By the way, in my latest episode of Remarkable People, I interview David Yeager, a leading expert in adolescent development and motivation. David shares insights from his groundbreaking research and new book, 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People. He challenges common misconceptions about teenage behavior and offers a fresh perspective on how to effectively engage and inspire young people.

David introduces the concept of the “mentor mindset” and provides practical strategies for parents, educators, and leaders to foster growth, respect, and autonomy in youth aged 10-25.

Tune in here!

Lastly, my newest book Think Remarkable is now available. It dives deeper into topics like this one, offering insights on how to stand out in both your personal and professional life. You can purchase it here. I’d love to hear your thoughts once you’ve had a chance to read it!

Mahalo!

Guy