This past weekend, at our Gold Coast Region elections, I witnessed firsthand how an amazing speech can be the reason you win a board position.

Confidence is Key‍

How you carry yourself is SO IMPORTANT, if not the most important part of elections. It shows the electing body that you are confident in your plans and have the skills necessary to be a leader in the chapter, region, council, or international order.

Make Your Point‍

Speak loudly and clearly, and make eye contact with the electing body. Use emotion throughout to convey your message, and emphasize important parts with differences in tone. If you misspeak or get tongue-tied, don’t beat yourself up over it—just continue forward with unwavering confidence.

Prepare to Succeed‍

To give a moving speech that will win you the election, you must prepare. Write your speech in advance and ensure you have practiced enough so you can deliver it without reading off a paper the entire time. What I like to do is have just bullet points so it's easy to see and be reminded of the timeline of your speech. When writing your speech, take into consideration what on your platform must be emphasized and how to best connect with the electing body. I like to include a quick backstory on what pushed me to run for the position I’m caucusing for, why I find it important, my goals and vision, and HOW to achieve and reach those goals/visions. I have seen too many times when candidates give empty promises. Saying you will make programming fun is great, but the real question is: How will you make programming great?

Captivate Attention‍

Start with an attention-grabbing intro. Since elections sometimes last hours, it’s important to stand out from other candidates. I joined Model UN this past year, and using an attention-getter is a common strategy among delegates to stand out. This past election, I started with a quick prayer that I was able to connect back to my goals of Stitches to Success (my platform was quilt-themed). Not only did it grab everyone’s attention, but it related to the position I was running for (Sh'licha).

Every Second Counts‍

During the time you get to present your platform, DO NOT WASTE IT READING THE TITLES OF EVERYTHING. Instead, bring the electing body's attention to the part of your platform you want them to notice the most. For example, during regional elections for Sh'licha, I requested the electing body bring their attention to my Stand Up Cause Action Plan to further emphasize the importance of bringing the plan to life.

Don’t forget to smile, and if you don’t think you can do it, trust me, you can. Fake it until you make it, and the world is your oyster.