how to write a good one minute speech

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• 1 minute speech topics

1 minute speech topics for captivating 60 second impromptu speeches 

150 just a minute topics, plus sample speech outlines, speeches with audio and a printable speech outline

By:  Susan Dugdale  

One minute speeches. That's sixty seconds to inform, to persuade, or to entertain using between 130 to 150 or so words. 

How succinct can you be? Can you get the point quickly and effectively?

Giving impromptu *  1 minute speeches teaches us about talking smarter, not faster! 

* Impromptu -  without preparation time or rehearsal

I'd like to call on Joe to say a few words

Our lives present many occasions calling for someone, perhaps us, to say 'a few words'. Whether in our work place, family, social or community setting, the ability to do that confidently and competently is highly valued.

Practicing preparing and delivering one minute speeches is an ideal way to gain the skills needed.

What's on this page

150 one minute speech topics.

You'll find 150 impromptu 1-minute speech topics, split into 3 groups:

• 50 one minute speech topics for children from middle school age and up
• 50 business/work/career themed 1 minute speech topics more suitable for adults
• 50 fun/nonsensical/absurd just a minute speech topics for adults

But wait, there's more! You will also find ...

Sample just a minute speech outlines & speeches with audio

In addition to the 1-minute speech topics there are  three example speech outlines that have been worked into speeches: one from each group of 50 topics.

I've included them because a 1-minute speech is just like any other. To be effective it needs structure.

The danger of opting to go 'free form' is that you're quite likely to serve up a meandering splurge of information leaving the people listening to it wondering what the exact point was you wanted to make.

One of the most effective structural formats or templates to commit to memory and use for impromptu, short speeches is Point, Reason, Example, Point or PREP * .

I've used it in my three sample outlines and speeches.  The pattern, PREP, repeats three times in each of them.

You'll find text and audio of each 1-minute speech below each topic group. 

( * Find out more about 6 other useful impromptu speaking templates .) 

At the bottom of the page there's a compelling explanation as to why learning to give good impromptu one-minute speeches is a brilliant action to take.

Download a printable one minute speech outline template

And very lastly, after information about the fabulous impromptu One Minute Speech game , there's a blank printable Point-Reason-Example-Point (PREP) one minute speech outline template to download for your own use. ☺

50 one minute speech topics for kids

• We should be able to choose our own bed times.
• Animals have rights too.
• We should never be beaten as a punishment.
• My favorite foods
• What is the best time of day for you?
• What do you think you will you do when you grow up?
• My favorite animal
• The best time I’ve ever had
• My most favorite subject at school
• The funniest thing that has happened to me
• The most exciting event in my life
• The person I would most like to meet
• Something I want to learn
• The best thing about my neighborhood
• What we do for fun in my family
• My favorite film
• The music I like to listen to
• What I think about social media
• My favorite sport
• The silliest thing I ever saw
• My three wishes are
• If you had the power what would you change?
• The most boring thing in the world
• Countries I would like to visit
• My favorite meal when I go out to eat
• A family tradition
• The best prank ever
• Why apologizing when you’re wrong is a good thing to do
• Words we use that we have to explain to adults
• Fun games to play with friends
• My favorite item of clothing
• What means the most to me
• What adults do not understand
• The best season of the year
• The dumbest thing I did when I was very little
• The top three things I like most about my best friends
• The best character in a book I’ve read or a movie I’ve seen
• What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen?
• Three things I think the US President should do
• The happiest time I’ve ever had
• The hardest thing I’ve ever done
• My favorite place to be in the whole world
• The scariest thing that has ever happened to me
• Why friends are important to me
• Why peer pressure can be damaging.
• Why being different is OK
• Why bullying is never OK
• Who is a hero to you, and why?
• What is your favorite holiday, and why?
• The worst tasting food I’ve ever been given to eat.

Something I want to learn (Topic 13 on the list for kids)

Here's PREP - Point, Reason, Example - in action. 

The opening sentence, incorporates the topic, states the first Main Idea *  or Point and serves as an introduction.

Yep, it's working hard! You don't have a lot of time, so you need to get straight to the point from the very beginning.

(The speech text without the PREP outline headings is below.)

* Main Idea and Point are interchangeable terms. 

1.    Main Idea or Point

Something I want to learn  is to read people's minds.

 - Reason 

I think it would give me power over my family.

 - Example

For example I’d know what my mother was planning for my birthday. If I didn't like it, I could begin a campaign to steer her in the direction of something I wanted.

2. Main Idea or Point  

I would also know if people were telling the whole truth, partial truths or total lies.      

That's handy for sorting out squabbles with brothers and sisters.

Jimmy did eat the last bit of cake. And despite what she says, Janelle borrowed my top and splodged tomato ketchup on it.

3. Main Idea or Point  

Lastly my father would know I was on to his excuses for habitually coming home late.

- Reason - Example (I've missed both out to fit the content into the time limit,  I don't feel it lessens the speech as the first two Main Ideas or Points were fully covered. Besides, the reason is implied. My knowing would/could curb my father's behavior.)

Close - Summary

Today I begin training. I've enrolled in internet guru Madame Gloria's 10 lesson mind reading course. My family will be amazed. You could try it too!

Total words : 145

1 minute speech 'Something I want to learn' text 

Something I want to learn is to read people's minds.  I think this would give me power over my family.

I would also know if people were telling the whole truth, partial truths or total lies. That's handy for sorting out squabbles with brothers and sisters.

Jimmy did eat the last bit of cake. And despite what she says, Janelle did borrow my top and splodge tomato ketchup on it.

And lastly my father would know I was on to his excuses for habitually coming home late.

1 minute speech 'Something I want to learn' audio

You've read it. Now you can listen to it. Click the link to hear me, Susan. (You're hearing a New Zealand accent. ☺)

Something I want to learn - 1 minute speech example

50 work/career themed 1 minute speech topics

• The difference between features and benefits of a product.
• The value of recognizable branding.
• The wisdom of the maxim to follow your dream
• The advantage of a college education
• The traps of advertising
• The difference between fact and opinion
• Difference in pay scales due to gender
• The glass ceiling
• The difference between having a job and a career
• Is the term ‘ethical business’ an oxymoron?
• What 3 skills do you think are most valuable to an employer?
• Why is working smarter, better than working harder?
• Plain English is preferable to jargon.
• Who do you admire most, and why?
• What qualities do you want to see in a leader?
• What skill do you think will help you get to where you want to go faster than any other?
• Is it the people you know, or the abilities you have that gives you the opportunities you want in life?
• Where does poverty begin?
• Should all education at all levels be free?
• What changes would you make to the current levels of state or governmental care?
• What one social change do you think would alter the way we live for the better?
• What one important idea has changed the way you think and act in your life?
• If you could be the best version of yourself you could be, what area would you be working in now?
• What does the phrase ‘living for the weekend’ mean to you?
• What special qualities does a person need to have in order to be successfully self-employed?
• What subject areas should schools teach more of?
• How could practicing impromptu speaking improve your critical thinking skills?
• What qualities do you notice particularly in good communicators?
• What advice would you give a young person about choosing a career?
• How does what you do now for a living, vary from the way your parents worked?
• What qualities do you admire most in the people who work alongside you – your co-workers?
• What habits do you find the most difficult to deal with in a shared work space?
• Is a 4 day week or ‘working to live’ an unrealistic dream?
• What is your favorite day of the week, and why?
• What does it mean to listen well?
• What book has had the most influence on your life?
• Three ways to stand up for yourself
• How to disagree with someone respectfully
• Is it ever OK to lie?
• What is the most important lesson you’ve learned so far?
• If you could have dinner with whoever you chose, who would you choose?
• What thing did you ever have to do that turned out to be extremely good for you?
• What my work clothes say about me
• Is it OK to have private conversations or to handle personal matters while at work?
• Three skills my employers do not know I have
• How do you know when you’ve been in a job too long?
• The notion of job security is no longer safe to hang on to. What should we be doing instead?
• What advice would you give someone who is appears to be in the job purely for the money?
• How does tone of voice influence how you respond to someone?
• What makes you think a person is trustworthy?

What my work clothes say about me  -Topic 43 from the work/career list - PREP format

The opening sentence, incorporates the topic, states the first Main Idea or Point and serves as an introduction. 

(You can see the speech text, minus the PREP outline headings below.)

1.   Main Idea or Point

Clothes make the man.

Yes, we judge each other on what we wear. And have done forever. 

For better, or for worse,  in the western working world, nothing says dependable and professional as eloquently as a tailored grey business suit, a crisp white shirt and a pair of good shoes. 

If we're sensible we understand clothing speaks louder than words ever can.     

And that our choices can undermine whatever we're involved in.

For example, a funeral director wearing a silver micro mini skirt teamed with skimpy red t-shirt meeting a client for the first time could set alarm bells clanging loudly.  

I'm immensely grateful to have been spared the minefield of choice by a business dress code.

- Reason 

Both the risk and anxiety of getting it wrong is enormous.

 - Example & close  

So what my carefully selected work clothes say about me is that I'm conscientious, detail focused, ambitious and, per courtesy of my classic Cartier watch, that I understand quality. 

Total words : 151

Just a minute speech: 'What my work clothes say about me'

Clothes make the man.  Yes, we judge each other on what we wear. And have done forever. 

For better, or for worse,  in the western working world, nothing says dependable and professional as eloquently as a  tailored grey business suit, a crisp white shirt and a pair of good shoes.  

If we're sensible we understand clothing speaks louder than words ever can.   And that our choices can aid or undermine whatever we're involved in.

For example a female funeral director sporting a silver micro mini skirt teamed with a skimpy red t-shirt meeting a client for the first time could set alarm bells clanging. 

I'm immensely grateful to have been spared the minefield of choice by a business dress code.   The risk, and anxiety, of getting it wrong is enormous.

1 minute speech - 'What my work clothes say about me' - audio

Click the link to listen: What my work clothes say about me

50 1-minute speech topics for fun, for a giggle, a laugh!

• The time the joke fell flat
• What’s funny depends on the individual
• The biggest laugh I’ve ever had
• The most successful prank I was part of
• Why people laugh
• My most embarrassing moment
• Two sure-fire ways to get rid of your boss
• How to talk your way out of having to do the dishes
• How to appear very intelligent
• The deepest secrets of your pet cat
• Why your dog is your best friend
• If I ruled the world
• Three words I would ban if I could
• Why I should have an instant pay rise
• The significance of World Paper Clip Day
• Lessons learned the hard way
• How to make your favorite meal last longer
• How to successfully annoy your brother, sister, mother, father
• The top three reasons for not handing in homework
• Why being predictable is boring
• Three ways to fail successfully
• How to blame other people and get away with it
• How to mind read
• The best seller I am writing
• The top ways to get people to like you
• How to lie extremely well
• The worst chat up line ever
• Three creative things to do with a brick
• How to tell if someone loves you
• What to do when you forget the birthday of someone close to you
• The worst Christmas present I ever received
• The most extraordinary thing that ever happened to me
• How to get other people to pay for you at a bar or restaurant
• Strategies for avoiding people you don’t want to talk to
• Idiot things I have done unintentionally
• Instructions for riding a bicycle
• How to teach your great grandmother to use a mobile
• How to avoid being picked out of a group to present a report
• Designer camouflage for under cover parents at student parties
• Three excellent reasons to give when you want to call in sick
• How to get other people to willingly do your work for you
• Why gossip is always so interesting to hear
• Why reading another person’s emails is OK
• How I explained Father Christmas to my children
• Why my son/daughter thinks I am super man/woman
• Why being me is so much better than being anyone else
• Why dogs resemble their owners
• How to interpret the shape of your hand and fingers
• The art of blaming your horoscope for whatever goes wrong in your life
• How to talk convincingly on subjects you know very little about

The significance of World Paper Clip Day -Topic 15 from the for fun list  - PREP format

(The full text, minus the PREP outline headings, is below.) 

Naturally, the significance of World Paper Clip Day is of interest to all intelligent people.

We understand the importance of keeping it together, of clipping ideas. It makes for an orderly existence.  

Think of the horror of muddled thoughts. Strewn willy-nilly, with nothing to hold them. Pitiable, isn't it?

We need clips. Just as we need the paper they hold.   

Both are crucial in this digital age - where ideas can vaporize with a key stroke, or a system malfunction. Entire files, weeks worth of work, can be lost, never to be restored, in a second.

Clipped papers are reassuringly tangible. They can be seen, touched and if you're into it, smelled.

Lastly we need to cherish the clip for its universality.

Wherever it is in the world, what it stands for is understood.  The paper clip unites - not just ideas, but people.

- Example & close  

Look around!  Vive la clip!

Total words : 149

1 minute speech -The significance of World Paper Clip Day

We need clips. Just as we need the paper they hold.  Both are crucial in this digital age - where ideas can vaporize with a key stroke, or a system malfunction. Entire files, weeks worth of work, can be lost, never to be restored, in a second.

Look around! Vive la clip!

1 minute speech - 'The significance of world paper clip day' - audio

Now listen to the audio: ' The significance of world paper clip day '.

Why learning to give 1 minute speeches is brilliant

The brilliance of becoming comfortable and competent with making impromptu 1 minute speeches is that you'll learn to:

• distill your material - reduce it to its core essentials - selecting only what is necessary and best to meet your speech purpose and the needs of your audience. 
• structure your information efficiently and effectively thus mastering two important facets of good speech making: speaking to time rather than going over and, providing an easily followed sequence of ideas. Your audiences will love you for both!

Consequences, side effects and benefits

You will be a hero! I do not jest. (OK, maybe just a smidgen. ☺) However the person who can calmly, confidently, competently stand and talk in public settings is always admired, and in demand. Speak well, saying what needs to be said, and you're fulfilling a vital social service, along with super-charging your self esteem!

The next time a toast, a summary to close a meeting, or a 'few words' to welcome a visitor are called for, perhaps it will be you leaping to your feet.

(For more on  the benefits of public speaking )

The one minute speech game

Do you teach public speaking, or lead a speaking group?

There is a superb impromptu speaking game, called surprisingly enough, One Minute Speeches, that I devised years ago for a bunch of 14–15-year-old students. It's been a firm favorite wherever I've taught it ever since.

Click One Minute Speeches to go to a page of 10 public speaking games. One-minute speeches is first on the page. You'll find all the instructions to play the game, plus two advanced variations. I promise you it's contagious good fun!

And if you like it, you can buy it. Everything you need to teach it is available as a download. That's instructions for all three games, hundreds of printable topics ... Follow the link to see: one minute speeches .☺

Download the printable speech outline template

Get started on your 1 minute speech right now. Click the link to download a printable speech outline template .  

Related pages

• How to banish impromptu speaking blues
• 150 impromptu public speaking topics 
• 11 themed topic lists for impromptu speaking
• Impromptu speaking topic cards to purchase, download and print  - a useful evergreen resource.
• Example impromptu speech outlines of 7 different structural formats each with a blank printable outline for your own use.

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How to Deliver a 1 Minute Speech: Tips, Examples, Topics & More

Hrideep barot.

• Body Language & Delivery , Public Speaking , Speech Writing

1 minute speeches can be pressed on you at any point. It might be an impromptu speech, it might be a toast you have been asked to deliver that same evening, or it may be a short speech where you have plenty of time to practice.

Regardless, a 1 minute speech is slightly different from a regular 5-15 minute speech. Besides the literal length of the speech, the way you approach it is also slightly different.

While we will get to impromptu speeches a little later in the article, here, I mainly want to talk about 1-minute speeches where you have time to practice (even if it’s very little)!

Note: Want to take your communications skills to the next level? Book a complimentary consultation with one of our expert communication coaches. We’ll look under the hood of your hurdles and pick two to three growth opportunities so you can speak with impact!

Let’s jump in to the tips and ideas on delivering a killer one-minute speech…

Tips on How to Write & Deliver a 1 Minute Speech

Choosing the topic

In most cases, you will probably already have an idea in mind about what it is you need to speak about depending on who asked you to speak and, more importantly, why did they ask you to do so.

The thing to figure out here is what part of that wider topic do you want to speak about.

For example, if you have been invited to say a few words in a public speaking seminar, people are expecting you to talk about public speaking, right?

But since you only have a minute, you can’t speak about the whole subject , of course!

So your job is to figure out what aspect of this wide topic should you speak about which can be fitted in a short amount of time but is still valuable enough to the audience.

I usually find it helpful to not focus on specifics of a wide topic.

Taking the public speaking example again, don’t dive into things like voice modulation, body language, speech structuring, etc. right now. You simply don’t have the time to do justice to those topics.

Instead, focus on the bigger picture. Ask yourself questions like, ‘Why is the audience even here today? What would they benefit the most from hearing?’. That will give you a good idea of what your main message should be.

Which brings me to my next point…

Focus on 1 message

Even if your speech is 5 or 15 minutes long, you must concise your ideas down to focus on only one message. It’s not just about the time here.

An audience usually forgets everything a speaker says almost immediately after the talk.

To make it easier for the audience to remember and to make your speech more impactful, revolve your entire talk around one core message.

For example, if you’re giving a 1 minute speech on business, focus on one aspect of business. Don’t talk about start-ups, running corporates, finance, marketing, etc. etc.

Just pick one thing that you are an expert in and that your audience will gain the most value from.

And that’s crucially important. To…

Understand who your audience is

I remember when I was asked to speak at my college graduation. It wasn’t because I was valedictorian or anything (my grades sucked!). It was for other extracurricular achievements.

I was asked to keep the speech short, about 2-3 minutes at the most.

When I sat down to write this speech (I had a couple of hours to write and rehearse), I thought that my classmates don’t really care about my achievements. If I ramble on about everything I have done for the college, it’s just not going to add any value to them.

So, by understanding who my audience was, I crafted a speech as a simple acknowledgment, just thanking all the people in the room that day who helped me achieve those things.

I knew that putting out preachy messages or simply showing off wouldn’t be very well received by people of my age at a graduation ceremony.

However, if I were to give the same talk to my prospective employer, I would have definitely listed down and spoken about all my achievements! Because that’s what he/she would want to know about me – how can I as a potential employee add the most value to the company.

It’s all about knowing your audience and crafting the speech accordingly. Otherwise, it’ll just fall flat especially if your speech is going to be as short as 1 minute.

Related article: The Importance of Knowing Your Audience When Delivering a Speech

Yes, research.

I know, it’s only a minutes’ long speech. But the truth of the matter is that you will need to research even more to provide as much value as you can in that short amount of time.

And that ain’t always easy.

So, pertaining to our previous point, start by researching who your audience is going to be. You can read more about how you can understand your audience here .

Then, move on to your topic and research. So, if I were talking about the fear of public speaking, I would research on points such as:

• Hard data and statistics on people who fear public speaking
• Famous public speakers
• How to reduce your fear of speaking
• Places to learn and practice public speaking

After you have all of this information, you will need to break it down and concise it into a minute by focusing on what’s most important. 

Start writing

Breaking down your speech at the research stage can be difficult. It’s easier to write a 5-10 minute speech as opposed to a valuable 1 minute speech.

So write everything down . Don’t worry about the time right now.

After you’re done with that, write down what is your main point of focus . Ask yourself, what is the one takeaway you want the audience to have?

For example, if you’re talking about social media marketing, you can talk about all the social media platforms, how it has changed marketing, the future of social media, etc.

But you might want the key takeaway for the audience to be ‘Being an authentic brand on social media to gain trust.’

It’s simple, it’s short, it’s just one message. After you have that down, writing the rest of your speech becomes much easier.

Related article: The Ultimate Guide to Structuring a Speech

How do you begin a 1 minute speech?

Usually, a beginning is supposed to be very engaging so your audience is hooked to your talk until the end of the speech.

But in the case of a 1 minute speech, you don’t need to focus much on the opening.

A simple, “I’m going to keep this short” intro works just fine.

In fact, most people prefer shorter speeches.

So starting off with letting the audience know that you are going to keep this short gives them the comfort that they don’t have to pay attention for too long. It also doesn’t surprise them when your talk ends within a minute or two.

Just a note, skip all the ‘thank yous’ and ‘good mornings’ at the beginning of your speech. You only have a minute. So make it count.

How do you end?

End with your main message. It’s as simple as that.

Your audience is most likely to remember the last thing you say even if it’s just a 1 minute speech! So save your core message until the end.

OR – you can mention your main idea in the middle but make sure you end with that as well so it’s fresh in your audience’s mind.

Don’t get fancy with things like ending with a quote or a poem or anything. If you want to read more about ending a normal 5-20 minute long speech, read 5 Ways to End Your Speech With Maximum Impact!

But if you’re giving a 1-2 minuter, don’t get fancy. Instead…

Keep it simple

When you have a short amount of time, it’s hard to get dramatic or add any tricks.

I’ve seen people try to add props and presentations in a 2-3 minute speech and it just doesn’t make sense to me (except on rare occasions).

Your best bet is to keep give a simple talk. Use simple body language and simple words.

You don’t have much time, so don’t overcomplicate.

Add a personal element

Try and add a personal anecdote in your speech. It doesn’t have to be very long of course. Just 2-4 sentences on how you might have experienced what you’re speaking on or why you’re a credible person to speak on said topic.

It adds a personal touch element to your speech and helps the audience relate and/or empathize with you even if it’s just for a minute.

That connection with the audience is what will make all the difference to them remembering your speech and subsequently, remembering you.

This is a big one (for any and every speech!).

When you’re about to deliver a short speech, it’s tempting to just wing it since you’re only going to be on stage for about 1 or 2 minutes.

But that’s exactly why you need to ensure you utilize that minute to the maximum!

I’ve given short speeches when I have practiced and it’s gone well. When I’ve not practiced , it’s just gone eh.

That’s because no matter how short your speech is and how clear you are with your material in your own head, it’ll be very different when you actually open your mouth on stage!

I understand that there might be times when you just don’t have the time to practice. But even rehearsing the speech softly to yourself as many times as you can before you go out there can prove to be really useful.

Related article: How to Prepare for a Speech When You Have No Time to Prepare?

But whether you have little or more time, use it to rehearse. Your speech will go SO much better than you expect it to and more importantly, it will leave the audience wanting more.

And that’s impactful.

Related article: Surprisingly Simple But Effective Processes to Practicing for a Speech

Avoid filler words

Many times I’ve seen people deliver short 1 minute speeches and because they are so underprepared or unfocused about having one core message to share, they spend most of their speech time going ‘um’, ‘uh’, ‘you know’ over and over again!

If you’re not familiar with it already, these are filler words and breaks the flow of your speech.

When you’re rehearsing, try to be consciously aware of these filler words and avoid them as much as you can.

Sure, a couple of them won’t kill your speech. In fact, it’ll make you look more human!

But excessively using them won’t do good for your message.

The best way to avoid the use of filler words (besides practicing) is to speak slowly. While you have only a short amount of time to speak, don’t pace your voice.

It’ll help you be more in control of your delivery when you speak slowly and steadily.

Related article: 6 Techniques to Stop Saying Filler Words: Eliminate the Ahs & Ums!

Speech Topics for 1 Minute Speeches

Here are some topic ideas for 1 minute speeches under different types of speeches:

Need more ideas? Watch this video we’ve made explaining the different ways you can brainstorm and come up with an ideal speech topic which is not only unique but also intrigues your audience:

Great 1 minute Speech Examples

Bernie sanders.

With the upcoming American elections, CNN hosted a Town Hall with Bernie Sanders . Now, that being said, let’s leave politics completely out of this.

What I want to focus on here is Sanders’ 1 minute speech within that discussion.

While you may agree or disagree with what he says is not important here. It’s his response to one of the questions posed to him on how he plans on beating Trump that blew my mind.

The speech lasted for about a minute and half at the most. But when you see it, observe the way he fitted so much relevant information into the speech in such a short amount of time.

He focused on one message – how Trump makes promises but does not keep them – and all his other material supported that.

His delivery makes the answer seem rehearsed. Whether it is or not, what we as learning speakers need to take away from this is how well he knew his material.

He even ended his talk with the main message of why Trump should be defeated which kept the core message fresh in the audience’s mind.

Rocky balboa

We all know this speech from the movie Rocky Balboa . It’s the inspiring one he gives his son to make him believe in himself.

The great thing about this one and half minute speech is how powerful it is. Stalone proves how you don’t need 15 minutes to make an impact.

When the right words are spoken in a certain way, a minute or two is enough.

Again, the entire speech is focused around one point which is what makes it so powerful. 

For us learning speakers, the progression of his speech is something that we should takeaway. He starts off slow and generic. But as he progresses, his volume goes up, his face turns aggressive, his words become heavy.

While we should keep it simple, we should not hold our genuine emotions back when it comes to public speaking – even if it’s just a 1 minute speech.

That’s when you get through to people. That’s when you make an impact.

Woody Roseland

Now, there are quite a few motivational 1 minute speeches out there, but I think the above Rocky example makes the point. So this one is slightly different.

It’s a 1 minute TED talk. And the whole idea of the talk is to shed light on people’s shrinking attention span because of technology.

The reason I like this talk so much is because it manages to make a great and relevant point while making me chuckle and it does it all in under 1 minute.

Just goes to show that you need only a minute to entertain people while making a strong, relevant point.

How Many Words Long is a 1 Minute Speech?

A 1 minute speech is usually about 130 to 150 words long. If a speech goes above a minute to let’s say a minute and half, it could go up to 180 to 200 words as well.

While you can use these numbers as a benchmark, don’t use them as a guideline.

Your speech word count can vary dramatically depending on your pace and tonality . Write down everything you want to speak about, then trim that down to only what’s most important. Forget word count.

When you rehearse (even if it’s only for a few minutes in your head), use your judgment or a stopwatch if you have to to get a gist of the amount of time you’re taking.

Remember, in most cases, a 1 minute speech means a short speech. No one’s going to kill you if you go over by 30 seconds or go under by 10 seconds.

However, if you do really need a word counter, this article has broken it down really well.

An Impromptu 1 Minute Speech

Impromptu speeches, where you are given a topic or situation on the spot and have to speak on it for a period of at least 1 minute can seem dreadful (it was for me)!

Even if you’re a quick thinker, having to think of something relevant and logical to say on a topic you have just been introduced to in front of a crowded room can be stressful AF! But if you are put in such a situation, be calm.

There are ways to get about it!

The simplest way I know of to easily speak on a topic is to follow the PREP method.

PREP stands for:

In simple terms:

You state your point , give a reason as to why you stated that point, then you give an example on that point and reason, and finally, you end by stating the point (the main message) again.

For example, if you are asked to give an impromptu farewell speech, you may start off by stating your dismay about leaving that particular place, why you’re sad about leaving, a story about what you’re going to miss the most and concluding with the first point of how you’re sad to be leaving. 

If you’re asked to speak on your favourite cartoon character, your speech could go something like:

“When I was a child, my favourite cartoon character was Captain Planet (Point) . Why? Because Captain Planet stood for everything I admired in a hero as a child. His morals, his values, his charisma. He stood for saving our planet from the evils of pollution and deforestation. Earth’s greatest champion! And that’s what I aspired to be (Reason). I remember I used to come back from school every day, fling my bag to the floor, jump on the couch and sing along to the theme of Captain Planet – “Captain Planet! He’s a hero. Gonna take pollution down to zero!” I just couldn’t get enough! Every day, I used to watch him and it would inspire me to do something good for the environment. It would teach me to not litter, to walk more instead of using cars or  to plant a tree once in a while (Example) . And that’s why Captain Planet is my favourite cartoon character. He wasn’t just a cartoon for me, he was a hero (Point) !”

If in case these points don’t come to you when you are standing there in front of so many people (it can happen), try and narrate a personal incident around that topic. It’s a simple way to keep talking about something relevant and before you know it, a minute will be up!

Impromptu 1 Minute Speeches for Teachers in a Classroom

1 minute speeches can be a great tool for teachers. The thing about 1 minute speeches is that they act as a method to break the ice and get the creative juices flowing.

When your asked to think on your feet for as short of a period as 1 minute, it gets your brain “warmed up”.

Since these speeches don’t take much time, it’s a quick way to start off a class or a lecture where you want the students to think on their feet or be involved in the subject at hand (and since you can adapt them to almost any type of subject, it’s an extremely flexible exercise).

If you’re giving a class next time, try introducing this element and see the outcome. Do the students feel more creatively vibrant? Do they feel more relaxed and in tune with each other?

Give it a shot! It fits all age groups.

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Final Words

In conclusion, 1 minute speeches are not that scary for you glossophobics (not sure if that’s an actual word but it means ‘people who fear public speaking’).

However, they should not be taken for granted as well due to their time span. As you can see with the sample speeches of Rocky and Berine Sanders, 1 minute speeches can have a great impact when done correctly.

If you would like to get a more holistic understanding of public speaking, I highly recommend Chris Haroun’s Public Speaking and Presentation speech online course on Udemy. I truly believe that the more you know about the nuances of public speaking at an overall level, the better your chances of delivering a speech in a way that people will remember, even if it is just a one-minute speech . I’ve done the course myself and it is truly worth it. Do check it out!

The next time you are asked to deliver a short speech, remember to practice , understand your audience , and focus on one main message.

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Media Relations

A one-minute read on writing a one-minute talk.

by D&E Staff

October 22, 2020

Getting your point across in a clear and concise manner is an essential communications skill for any career path. Whether you are speaking to the media in an interview, the American people from a presidential debate stage or making the case as to why you should try the new restaurant down the street – you should feel confident. Here is a one-minute read on writing a one-minute talk.

When preparing a talk, keep in mind that no matter how long your talk is, the structure of your message remains the same.

Here are four rules to follow when creating a talk:

1. What’s your message?

If your audience could remember one thing from the message, what would it be? Write this down and make sure your talk clearly states this message early and often.

2. Keep it simple

Have you ever listened to someone speaking and wondered, “spit it out already!?” When preparing a talk, remember Occam’s razor – the idea that the simplest and shortest way to get your point across is best for effective communication. Your audience does not have time or energy to listen to you dance around a topic – get to the point.

3. Repetition is good

Remember the key message you stated earlier in your talk? Since your audience can’t rewind and go back to hear it again, make sure it’s repeated throughout to ensure your audience remembers it.

4. Practice

Practice giving your speech to nail down your timing and delivery. If practicing makes you nervous, try practicing your talk in front of a furry friend .

So those are the four rules, now, create a checklist to make sure your talk has:

An Introduction: A story, statistic or another anecdote to grab their attention.

A Takeaway: Let your audience know what they should remember from the talk.

Sign Posts: Use effective transitions to leave breadcrumbs throughout your speech to make sure you don’t lose your audience along the way.

Examples: To establish credibility, share evidence as to why your reasoning is sound to show the audience why you’re right.

A conclusion: One last chance to nail your message! Send your audience off with a different statistic, quote or anecdote to make your key message memorable.

Congratulations! You are one minute closer to nailing your next talk, but now you know it will take more than a minute to prepare, practice and present your next speech.

Think you could use some extra help preparing for your next talk or media interview? Drop us a line .

Blog authored by:

D&E Staff

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