Obama gave a stellar victory speech the other night… What can you take away from it to help you improve your speeches?
1) Keep it positive
– if ever there was a time to chest-thump, now would be it. Yet in one of his proudest moments, the president remained gracious, dedicating the content of his speech to his campaign workers, the armed forces, and the American people.
2) Tell stories
– the president’s speech was flush with stories, some of the most powerful being those around the issue of health care.
3) Have a call to action
– sit and think about what you want your audience to do
when the speech is over. Sign a petition? Buy a product? Call a legislator? Speeches are only effective if they inspire change. Obama’s call to action is clear here, he wants his audience to unite.
“Red state or blue state we are one people…The United States of America”.
4) Project your voice
– Notice the forceful manner in which the president projects his voice. Many executive speakers don’t give themselves enough permission to really let their voice carry. If your voice feels reedy and small, contact me
and I will set up a coaching plan for you!
5) Hit your content words –
content words are nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. They are the words that carry the meaning of the sentence. Notice the way Obama really engages these words, and emphasizes them. He seems to relish language…great orators often do. Read poetry out loud. Sing songs. Love the language, and it will show in your speeches.
6) Make eye contact
– Eye contact matters. 80% of our impression of a speaker is non-verbal. Obama’s gaze is direct, and earnest.
7) Care about your topic –
There is only one speaking malady that cannot be cured, and that’s ambivalence for your topic. Obama has clearly worked closely with his speechwriters to craft a speech that resonates first and foremost with the American people, but also, within his own heart. It shows in the fire in his eyes. If you feel ambivalent about your topic, sit with your speech more. Think. Daydream. Consider re-writing. Keep writing until you feel connected again. Contemplate the meaning under the speech, the ideas
, just before you step to the podium. Stay connected.
8) Have a closer
– It’s important to let your audience know you are concluding your speech, either directly or indirectly. Obama finishes his speech by returning to a theme that has persisted throughout his candidacy and presidency; that of equality.
Jeffrey Davis is a public speaking, presentation, and accent reduction coach in New York City. Click here
to contact Jeffrey and set up a free twenty minute in person speech consultation!
