Original Oratory Tips - How to Master Authentic Delivery

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Last time I wrote about general tips for oratory topics, but by now most of us have chosen our topics and begun competing. Yet, something feels off. Every time I go to a tournament, I get critiques about how my speech doesn’t feel real.

Judges say things like, “Your delivery is polished, but it’s missing authenticity,” or “I want to feel your passion more.” Trust me, I understand how you’re feeling. You spend weeks crafting the perfect speech, editing for hours, practicing in front of mirrors, only to hear, “It just didn’t connect.”

So, how do you make it feel real? How do you bring authenticity into your speech so that it lands with power and purpose? Let’s learn some practical strategies to learn how to be polished AND powerful.

1. Know Why Your Speech Matters to You

Let’s start here because authenticity begins with your connection to your speech. Ask yourself: Why did I choose this topic? Be brutally honest. Is it because it sounded impressive? Because it fit a trend? Or is it something that genuinely moves you?

Judges and audiences can sense when you’re just going through the motions. If your topic doesn’t personally resonate, you’ll struggle to connect with your audience. Take a moment to reflect on your topic’s real-world stakes. How does it impact you, your loved ones, or your community? Maybe you’ve chosen a topic like mental health advocacy because a close friend struggled, or climate change because you grew up watching forests disappear near your hometown.

This personal tie will serve as your emotional anchor. Every time you speak, remind yourself why this speech matters not just as a performance but as a message you genuinely believe in.

2. Use Real Stories (Even Imperfect Ones)

Here’s the thing about storytelling: perfection is boring. Polished anecdotes with perfect resolutions can feel scripted, but raw, real moments create trust. Share personal stories, even if they’re messy, vulnerable, or incomplete. Nowadays there’s lots of discourse surrounding what stories we should share, but that’s ridiculous. If it’s on your heart and will serve as a powerful learning experience, then share it.

Follow your stories with a lesson or turning point; it adds emotional weight. Even if your story doesn’t wrap up with a bow, that’s okay. Life rarely does, and your audience will respect your honesty.

When you share stories, avoid over-rehearsing them to the point that they feel robotic. Let some parts stay organic. Every time you deliver the story, allow your emotions to re-emerge naturally. You’re not just sharing a memory; you’re taking your audience into it with you.

3. Break the Script

This is where many of us falter. We’ve spent so much time memorizing our speeches that they come out sounding like… well, a speech. The key to breaking the “speechy” delivery is to make it feel conversational.

Pause with purpose: Instead of rushing through sentences, pause at critical moments to let the weight of your words sink in. This creates drama and draws your audience in.

Vary your tone: If every sentence is delivered in the same rhythm or volume, you’ll lose your audience. Speak softly for emotional points, and raise your voice when you need to emphasize urgency.

Color each word: Every single word in yours should have purpose and feeling. Each word should even have its own emotion. This is a mix of what we call “coloring the words” and “commitments.” Make sure you are actively thinking of the words and their significance.

Ad-lib when appropriate: Don’t be afraid to go off-script occasionally. And I don’t mean paraphrase random words LOL. I mean adding natural reactions, like laughing at your own joke, shows you’re present in the moment.

4. Embody Your Words

Your body is part of your message. It’s not just about what you say but how you say it. Often, a disconnect between words and body language makes a speech feel artificial.

Use purposeful gestures: Instead of waving your hands around aimlessly, tie gestures to specific words or ideas. For example, if you’re talking about something growing, use your hands to mimic the movement of growth. Also, use the gesture box. The gesture box is located horizontally: from your shoulders to just beyond your hips and vertically: from your chest to your waist.

Moreover, each hand gesture should be made with commitment. Don’t just have your arms awkwardly below the gesture box. When you make a movement, it should be done with purpose. But remember not to pre-plan hand gestures; they should come naturally.

• Maintain eye contact: Don’t stare blankly at one spot in the room. Look at different audience members. Make each person feel like you’re speaking directly to them.

• Relax your posture: Avoid being stiff. Stand tall but relaxed, as if you’re having a heartfelt conversation with a friend.

Practice this in front of people who will give you honest feedback. Ask them: “Does my body language match what I’m saying? Does anything feel forced?”

5. Speak Like You Actually Speak

This might seem obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to slip into “formal mode” when delivering a speech. All of a sudden you’re using words and phrases you’d never use in real life. While an oratory should be polished, it shouldn’t sound alien to you.

Rewrite parts of your speech in your natural voice. Instead of saying, “It is imperative that we take immediate action,” say, “We need to act now.” Simplify where you can. Speak in a way that feels authentic to who you are, even if that means breaking a few grammatical rules.

When you deliver your speech, just imagine you’re speaking to a friend. By using this mental trick, you can make your tone less formal and more conversational. In fact, try it with a friend at practice. Sit down and give your oratory to them like the two of you are just talking.

6. Embrace Vulnerability

This is the hardest but most important tip. Authenticity often requires letting your guard down. It means allowing your audience to see the cracks, the struggles, and the imperfections. It’s scary, but it’s also what makes people listen.

You don’t need to cry to be vulnerable, but you do need to be real. If you’re talking about failure, don’t gloss over the pain of it. If you’re discussing joy, let your face light up with genuine excitement.

Vulnerability is what transforms a speech from words on a page to a moment that sticks in someone’s heart. People will remember you for being your authentic self during your performance.

7. Adapt to Each Audience

Every audience is different. Certain audience’s might respond better to humor and relatability than others. Pay attention to your audience’s energy and adjust accordingly. If an audience is generally unresponsive to your humor, don’t push it; just move on.

If you’re losing their attention, bring them back with a direct question, like, “Have you ever felt this way?” or an unexpected shift in tone. Show them that you’re not just delivering a monologue; you’re having a dialogue with them, even if they’re silent.

8. Practice the Art of Silence

Sometimes, it’s not what you say but what you don’t say that leaves the biggest impact. Strategic silence can be more powerful than words. After delivering a key line, pause. Let it hang in the air. Give your audience time to absorb it.

Silence also gives you space to breathe and collect your thoughts, helping you stay grounded during delivery.

9. Seek Feedback, but Filter It

Not every critique is helpful, and that’s okay. After a tournament, you might receive conflicting feedback; one judge loves your humor, while another thinks it’s distracting. Take all feedback with a grain of salt and focus on the comments that align with your goals. One rule I like to follow specifically for my writing is that if I got a critique about a sequence in the speech or piece of evidence at least 3 times, then I have to change it. Do NOT let repetitive comments go without some sort of work.

Ask trusted mentors or peers for their input, but don’t let every opinion shake your confidence. Authenticity isn’t about pleasing everyone; it’s about staying true to yourself while connecting with your audience.

10. Own the Walk to the Front

The moment you stand up and start walking to the front of the room, you’re already making an impression. Judges and audience members aren’t just watching what you say; they’re observing your confidence, energy, and presence. Use that walk to set the tone.

Walk with purpose; don’t rush, but don’t drag your feet either. Stand tall, shoulders back, and make eye contact with a few people in the room as you move. This small act establishes a connection you’ll need later on before you even begin speaking. Avoid fiddling with anything, straightening your clothes excessively, or looking at the floor; these actions can signal nerves or hesitation.

Think of the walk as part of your speech—it’s the unspoken prelude to your words. A poised and intentional walk signals that you’re in control and ready to captivate your audience.

11. Remember: Connection Over Perfection

At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to deliver a “perfect” speech. It’s to make your audience feel something. Whether they laugh, cry, or leave deep in thought, the most important thing is that they feel.

So the next time you step up in that round, let go of the pressure to be flawless. Instead, focus on being real. Speak from the heart, tell your story, and trust that your authenticity will shine through.

Because when it’s real, they’ll feel it. And that’s when your words truly make a difference.

That’s all for this second edition of original oratory tips, and as always, stay brilliant.

Isra Yasin - The Forensic Funnel