Speechwriting: Rhyme

Many of us can recite poems and lyrics we first heard when we were children. Rhythm and rhyme are beyond memorable.

So why don’t we use them more often when we speak?

I was bored with my elevator pitch and since the round-robin introductions had begun, I put together a simple rhyme.

And then it was my turn to introduce myself:

Are your messages deflecting or connecting? I’m Dave Bricker—speaker and business storytelling expert. If you want to say it, share it, or sell it, bring me your story; I’ll help you tell it.

What happened next floored me!

The room went silent for a few moments and then everyone broke into applause.

And after the meeting, several people came up to me, told me they loved my elevator pitch, and recited the last line back to me:

If you want to say it, share it, or sell it, bring me your story; I’ll help you tell it.

There’s no law that says you can’t deliver a whole keynote speech in rhyme.

Why not?

Rhyme a line. Compose a rap

Make the audience’s fingers snap

Make it lengthy. Make it terse

Be mindful of the power of verse!