It's pretty much a requirement that all people of importance or leadership position have good public speaking skills. Anyone can write a good speech on paper, but it's the delivery that sells it. A person who knows how to deliver themselves can make any argument or proposition sound amazing. That is why there are only few who have truly great speeches - ones that stick to your brain and recorded in history.
I was born on the same day Pearl Harbor happened (December 7th, for those who need to brush up on American History), so I'm biased toward a certain speech that was delivered on the day after in 1941. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his Pearl Harbor Address to Congress with a voice full of conviction and determination. He opens his address with probably his most iconic line: "Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan". Every word he says has meaning and purpose, and the way he says it is clear and strong.
FDR presents his speech as if riding a wave - unbroken with smooth transitions, with swells, and with direction. Many speakers fail to have a clear direction without making points blatantly obvious. "I believe this because yadda yadda yadda, point one, point two, point three, the end". Great speakers take a direction and transition through it fluidly, taking interesting ways going about their different points. A great speech should be pleasing to the ear and not just a recitation of an essay, a misconception many people have.
The difference between a "meh" and a memorable speech is fairly self-explanatory - how it is spoken. Um's and Uh's just don't cut it. A person should have their material well-read and practiced to the point where they shouldn't stutter or rely on crutch words. Not only should the words be good, but the sound must be good. People fall asleep to monotone drones and are irked by wrongfully placed influx of tone or phrasing. It's important to still convey emotion when speaking professionally. Words can only go so far, but when you emphasize them it adds more meaning.
However, it's equally important when to hold back on emotion. Having self-control and maintaining professionalism is probably something that goes without saying to many people, but apparently it's a problem that certain people suffer from...
Humans are naturally emotional creatures and sometimes we can get carried away, especially if a speaker is passionate about their topic. But showing you can keep composure can actually strengthen your presentation, and give the impression that you are a strong and so is your message.
I do recommend everyone to listen to his speech in full, or at least read it. It has all the things I mentioned and more, and I feel it is an underrated speech. Speakers learn to speak by listening to others speak first.
I was born on the same day Pearl Harbor happened (December 7th, for those who need to brush up on American History), so I'm biased toward a certain speech that was delivered on the day after in 1941. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his Pearl Harbor Address to Congress with a voice full of conviction and determination. He opens his address with probably his most iconic line: "Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan". Every word he says has meaning and purpose, and the way he says it is clear and strong.
FDR presents his speech as if riding a wave - unbroken with smooth transitions, with swells, and with direction. Many speakers fail to have a clear direction without making points blatantly obvious. "I believe this because yadda yadda yadda, point one, point two, point three, the end". Great speakers take a direction and transition through it fluidly, taking interesting ways going about their different points. A great speech should be pleasing to the ear and not just a recitation of an essay, a misconception many people have.
The difference between a "meh" and a memorable speech is fairly self-explanatory - how it is spoken. Um's and Uh's just don't cut it. A person should have their material well-read and practiced to the point where they shouldn't stutter or rely on crutch words. Not only should the words be good, but the sound must be good. People fall asleep to monotone drones and are irked by wrongfully placed influx of tone or phrasing. It's important to still convey emotion when speaking professionally. Words can only go so far, but when you emphasize them it adds more meaning.
However, it's equally important when to hold back on emotion. Having self-control and maintaining professionalism is probably something that goes without saying to many people, but apparently it's a problem that certain people suffer from...
Humans are naturally emotional creatures and sometimes we can get carried away, especially if a speaker is passionate about their topic. But showing you can keep composure can actually strengthen your presentation, and give the impression that you are a strong and so is your message.
I do recommend everyone to listen to his speech in full, or at least read it. It has all the things I mentioned and more, and I feel it is an underrated speech. Speakers learn to speak by listening to others speak first.
You made very good points in this post and I love that you utilized a speech that maybe not all of us have heard. I most definitely agree that fluidity is so essential and speech is more than just the words that you are using. With effective use of tone and the ability to flow effortlessly, there is a great speech to be made.
ReplyDeleteI have a rather monotone style of speaking, and I'm trying to infuse more emotion into my speeches. I'm glad that you included an example of the poor use of emotion; sometimes, it may seem like more emotion equals better, but your post makes it clear that emotion is a tool to be used tactfully.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I've been fed today with reading about avoiding speaking monotonously, this one sells a different idea. From a different perspective if a person is over prepared and over enthusiastic about presenting, a point was made and I'm still laughing at the candidate's speech. Poor guy, must've wanted to win so badly. Rather than pointing out all criterias of a good speech, you focus on one which is delivery, and that is enough for me to grasp with the information you provide.
ReplyDelete