It’s June again, and if you have young adults in your extended family, chances are you have been to a graduation ceremony or two, maybe even your own.  If so, you may have heard speakers who inspired, and others who were quite forgettable. One thing is sure: in an age where the senior class may whip out their smart phones to tweet at the slightest provocation, a speaker can no longer count on her audience giving their polite attention while they are bored to tears.

Commencement speeches have a lot in common with other types of “one to many” communication. So even if you think there’s little chance you’ll ever be called on to speak to Harvard’s class of 2020, you may be able to use some suggestions for your next public address. (more…)