It is an extraordinary honor to be invited to deliver a commencement address to a group of graduating college seniors. But it’s also a lot of pressure: You are the only thing standing between these hard working academics and their diplomas – and if you think shareholders are tough, just try standing in front of a group of graduates ready to get on with life. Those “amazing” commencement speeches – the ones that get over a million views on YouTube (or ones used to make presenters even more nervous before delivering their own speeches) all have a few things in common that you can learn from.

Start Strong

“I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.” Steve Jobs, Stanford Class of 2005 Commencement

Whether you open with humor, as did Shonda Rhimes at her commencement speech to the Dartmouth Class of 2014, or with reflection, as Nora Ephron did while addressing the Wellesley Class of 1996, start strong. Express gratitude for the honor bestowed upon you. Then grab your audience’s attention, and draw them in to the story you plan to tell.

Have a Clear Message

“On this wonderful day when we are gathered together to celebrate your academic success, I have decided to talk to you about the benefits of failure.” J.K. Rowling, Harvard 2008 Commencement

We’ve all been to graduations in which the commencement speech was nothing more than a reminder of how uncomfortable the chairs were or how warm the room was. To avoid such a scenario, just remember: It’s about them, not you. Acknowledge and celebrate this moment in their lives with your message and the gratitude you feel for being able to stand before them. Inspire them by letting them know how desperately their skills, enthusiasm, and their vision are needed in this world. Encourage them to take risks, even when they don’t know if they’ll succeed. Urge them to never stop learning. And remind them that they didn’t get there on their own and that now it is their turn to help the next generation. 

Be Authentically You on Stage

“Now, as you have explained to your grandparents, my name is Stephen Colbert, but I also play a character on TV who is named Stephen Colbert. And I don’t always know which of us has been invited someplace. Well, today, I’m fairly confident that I’m me.”  Stephen Colbert, Northwestern Class of 2011 Commencement

It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to be Steve Jobs or J.K. Rowling when you’re giving your speech, but the best way to be successful with any commencement speech is to be you. You were invited for a reason, and just because you didn’t invent the world’s most popular phone or write the top-selling book series of all time doesn’t mean you don’t have your own unique experiences and insights that your audience can learn from. Tell a story, tie it to your overall message, and share something that will help them remember you. Talk about your struggles and failures;  it may help them learn to persevere; share the mistakes you have made along the way that will teach them to learn and grow.

Keep It Short

“As I’m sure you guys know by now, it is extremely difficult to stay alert and attentive, instead of getting hypnotized by the constant monologue inside your own head.” David Foster Wallace, 2005 Kenyon Commencement Address

Remember those uncomfortable chairs? Regardless of your message, if you can’t deliver it in under 20 minutes, you will lose their attention. Steve Jobs delivered his commencement speech in 15 minutes; J.K. Rowling’s was a little more than 20 minutes, as was Stephen Colbert’s.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is choosing your core message, then everything – from some opening humor or an inspiring quote, to a story you share about your own experiences, to your parting words – must drive that core message. What does the graduating class of 2016 need to hear from you the most? When you answer that, the rest is easy.

Practice, Practice, Practice

As with any public speaking opportunity, the most important effort you can make to be successful is to practice. Practice in front of your friends. Practice while being recorded on video. Hire a speech coach and practice with him or her. But practice your speech until it feels like an old friend.

Creating and Delivering the Perfect Commencement Address was originally published on LinkedIn.


Franchetti Communications delivers accelerated results by designing power-packed media interview and presentation training sessions around your unique goals, in person and via teleconference. Franchetti Communications works with corporations and business leaders to develop communication strategy, messaging, and PR strategy. Follow Franchetti Communications on LinkedIn, and be sure to download our special report: 6 Ways to Guarantee Your Message Cuts Through the Clutter.

One Response to Creating and Delivering the Perfect Commencement Address
  1. […] Creating and delivering the perfect commencement address can be a challenge. Start wuth these tips from Franchetti Communications.  […]


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