You are well-protected from the audience by the lectern itself, and by the wall of words that you plan to recite to them. When you read a script, you will probably stand behind a lectern.With a script, the audience does not get to see you thinking on your feet, performing under pressure, and demonstrating your best qualities of leadership.Making adjustments is the meat of being in dialogue with an audience. Therefore, if you lose your audience, or offend them in some way, it’s harder for you to make adjustments. After all, your eyes are on the page to ensure that you don’t flub your lines. When you read a script, it is also difficult for you to read your audience.As a result, you may try to manipulate your voice to indicate conviction, which may add to your problems of inauthenticity. This means it’s harder for you to convey a sense of conviction and belief. Your ability to maintain eye contact with your listeners is limited.

Few people outside of the theater have this ability. Actors train for years to be able to make written scripts sound “real” or conversational. We don’t speak in complete sentences, and the rhythm of formal prose is very different from the cadences of spontaneous speech. You’re reading written prose, so you will sound formal and more distant.After all, at many academic conferences, scholars are invited to read. I am told such conferences are rarely riveting entertainment. Reading a script makes you appear to be prepared, intelligent, and maybe even academic.Yes, you do have to practice reading it aloud, but if you are familiar with the contents of the pages, your rehearsal may be relatively quick and easy. The real work is done when the script is finished. Reading a script minimizes your rehearsal time.You can always look down at your text and carry on. Reading a script makes you feel more secure because you know you won’t go blank.This is highly important in situations such as The State of the Union Address, when what you say will be part of the historical record, or when there is a great need to be precise, such as thanking a long list of dignitaries in the audience. Your ideas are laid out clearly – in black and white – so that you can deliver your complete message with carefully crafted words.Preparation, sensitivity to the audience, and delivery will carry the day in almost all cases. Written scripts that are read can be electrifying, and presentations that are internalized can be deadly.

It’s only natural to want to feel in control, and having a neatly typed script in front of you – one that clearly states every point you need to make in the precise order you want to make it – certainly seems appealing.īut is it the best way to go? Many will tell you, “No” they will tell you that your best bet is to internalize the message so your delivery will seem more natural and spontaneous.īut I’ve seen both approaches work well…and fail miserably. When it’s time to stand up in front of a group of people and make your best effort to persuade them to see things your way, the pressure is undeniably ON. What is the best way to deliver it so that your audience can fully connect with you and your message? Will using a script help you or hinder you? In this article, Sims Wyeth looks at both the pros and cons to guide you to reach your own conclusion for your own situation.

Is your presentation a document to be read or an experience to be shared? The answer should be clear, but for the nervous presenter that leaves an uncomfortable quandary.

Pros and cons of a manuscript speech