Speech! Speech! Speech!
Wow, it’s been a great month for speeches, reminding us all that it’s not just about the 30-second clip!
For a consultant who writes speeches, and coaches leaders on delivery, I’ve enjoyed comparing the different styles, cadence, and language used by the speakers.
First, was the Inauguration Speech by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Twenty-five minutes of:
- Simple language;
- Detail after detail, showing that he knows his city and cares about it;
- A strong voice, with natural rise and fall;
- Confidence; and
- Specific promises.
As you can tell from the audience response, it was a winner.
Next, “the speech heard around the world”, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s remarks at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, in Davos, Switzerland. Now, I’ll admit, I’ve never watched a speech from the WEF before, but this one got people talking.
I’m often asked it if it is the words, or the delivery, that makes a great speech. So, this time I downloaded the transcript and took a close look.
Honestly, the speech is well written, but the language is not simple and the anecdotes are not common or easy to grasp. Then again, maybe you discuss the aphorism of Thucydides or the Czech dissident Vaclav Havel more than I do!
But the delivery was bang on. Serious – maybe even stern. He spoke as though his message could not be denied or refused. I would suggest that although the teleprompters were running, he had it memorized.
Of course, between some of the more sophisticated language, he also had some great one-liners that he delivered with bravado. And he finished with what he’s going to do about it – always the best way to finish a speech about tough challenges. He could have danced around the issues, and delivered a “nothing burger”, but this time he chose to speak directly. That’s why it was embraced.
And lastly, I had the pleasure of attending the TEDx talks at the University of Saskatchewan.
This event brought USask faculty, staff, students and alumni to the stage to share their discoveries. What a creative, brilliant and entertaining bunch of speakers!
Each kept their talk short and snappy, using stories, humor, visuals and even live music to share their message. The Planning Committee nailed it, and I understand that they coached the speakers to bring out their best attributes. If you are a public speaker, take a look at the video replay to learn the techniques used to hold the attention of 500 people for four hours. I highly recommend this free event!
