The Campaign Corner series looks to give three tips about commonly asked campaign issues. Do get in touch if you have any questions you would like to suggest.
Today’s Campaign Corner question: I often get very nervous when speaking in public. Speeches at the Civic Centre may not matter much but I do want to make a good impression at local groups – and at party conference! What do you advise?
Practice makes perfect: People who are nervous about making speeches (or not very good at it – not always the same thing!) understandably often try to avoid making them. However, the best way both to get your nerves under control and also to get better is regular practice, turning good techniques into subconscious habits as you work on them a little each time. Pluck up your courage and seek out opportunities to speak – more verbal questions at council, talking at local party events and so on.- Work hardest on your first and last sentences: A good start and a good finish to a speech can cover a multitude of verbal sins in between. Even if you are ad-libbing in-between, plan out in advance the exact words you will use at each end of the speech.
- Find someone to give you good feedback: Being told you are brilliant all the time is almost as useless as being told you are awful all the time. It might be nicer but it’s still pretty useless because even the most brilliant of speakers can always learn lessons from a speech and strive to improve further. In fact, that’s often why they have ended up being brilliant speakers. Hunt out one or more people who can give you feedback that is both supportive and helps you learn.
Got any other tips? Please do share them in the comment thread below.
Want to know more about local campaigning? Campaigning In Your Community by myself and Shaun Roberts should be right up your street. It’s available for only £4 from ALDC and you can read an extract for free here.
* Mark Pack is Party President and is the editor of Liberal Democrat Newswire.
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15 Comments
I’m one of those who get very nervous speaking in public. I’m usually fine if its a relaxed group atmosphere, its just standing up in front of people when I get so nervous that I will visibly shake and it doesn’t seem to matter how much i’ve practiced the speech before hand.
I remember a speech I made in S3 on the the Iraq war, I was so nervous that it was absolutely obvious to everyone. My teachers comment on it was just “Relax” which isn’t particularly helpful. Part of my problem, is that everytime I go to make a speech, I think of it and my body remembers the nerves and starts shaking again.
I want to try a technique of focusing on people in the audience but I’m nervous of trying it.
Excellent tips, Mark, though I’d definitely put your Number 2 first (and often have done), as it’s the most important for making a start: the first line is to get them listening, and the last one is to get them clapping (plus, if you’re speaking on a time limit and it’s about to run out, it’s a much better finish to drop everything and cut straight to your rousing last line than peter out half-way through when the mike’s switched off).
Practice is vital too, though. It’s how I went (mainly thanks to various Youth / Student Lib Dem organisations) from stammering and being so terrified I couldn’t even remember to look at notes written on the back of my hand to being able to give a speech at the drop of a hat – just doggedly getting up and getting better. So, to anyone doubting, it works, particularly if you can find a relatively friendly audience to make your mistakes in front of.
Two other small suggestions: make eye contact. It’s scary, I know, but it keeps your chin up and stops you mumbling, and makes you look confident, even if you’re not. If there’s someone you know in the audience who can be relied on to look encouraging, know where they’re sitting and look at them.
Also, particularly if you’re new to speaking and worried, if you have a lectern (like the ones at a church or a Lib Dem Conference) to speak from, reach out and grasp it firmly by its sides while you speak. Opening your arms wide looks like confident body language, it lets your lungs expand, and most importantly it stops you wobbling from side to side.
I’m embarrassed to say I have another top tip for making speeches which I’ve often given to people down the years, but can’t remember what it is. So if there’s anyone who’s listened to me better than I have, could you chip in? And that’s why, even if you know you can deliver a brilliant speech on the fly, it’s wise at least to jot down your three main points on the back of your hand, if you don’t want to be seen carrying a bit of paper / set of cards / iPad. Because it’s very embarrassing when you’re on stage and do a Rick Perry. I have three points to make – one, two… Er… Ooops!
some good advice here.
The best advice I ever heard comes from an American professional speechwriter, Hal Gordon, who I met once and asked what makes a good speech. He explained himself to me very fluently and gave me a card for his website if I wanted to find out more about his craft. I don’t think it’s possible to improve on his words so I’ll pass along the same info.
He said there are lots of no-nos, but only three ‘knows’: you should know your audience, know your subject and know what you want to say.
To connect your ideas you need to transmit your intelligence and emotions, and this requires you have to be as well as to know (cue Hamlet – which is the great standard practise format for discovering cadence, contrast and developing a question into a conclusion).
He compares the art to method acting and also says a good speech can be measured by the sense of being alive in the moment and bringing everyone together in agreement.
All this and more can be found here:
http://www.ringingwords.com/speechwriters-craft.html
Thanks Mark, sseful tips.
I would emphasise that being nervous is an essential part of the process for most people. I’ve lost track of how many speeches I’ve made, and I think I come across as reasonably confident, but I am still always nervous before I speak.
The advice I would give is to be very clear about the key points you are trying to make, and try and make as few as possible, ideally just one. You will get your message across far more effectively by making one clear point well, and concisely, than by trying to cover too much ground.
I am always nervous when making speeches, but agree with Neil that it can help. My tip is to always stand up in advance of when you will be called to speak if possible. So at a conference, stand up and move to the side of the hall when you are asked to stand by.
I would also agree that making too many points can confuse the message. And don’t try to tell jokes unless you can get the timing right. Finally always speak from the heart. Everytime people have congratulated me on a good speech it has been on an issue that really matters to me. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take any opportunity to speak when it arises – like Alex, I used every opportunity to go from being a gibbering wreck to a halfway competent speaker.
1. At a smallish meeting – come out from behind the table/podium – this is a barrier. To make better contact be as one with your audience.
2. Know your stuff – talk TO/WITH your listeners – not AT them !
3. If you are allowed (I’m bad at this !!) say ten minutes – only take eight. Listeners will appreciate this. You don’t HAVE to fill every “unforgiving minute”. The most boring speakers usually speak at great length !
4. Do everything possible to be absolutely sure that your facts cannot be disputed.
5. Only recite the most important statistics – you are giving a talk not (Usually ) a college lecture.
6. Speak (and joke !) naturally – don’t kill what you have to say with a joke that falls flat.
7. SMILE – to start with – the serious stuff will follow – aim to build a warm relationship with your listeners..
Max Atkinson’s book, especially Our Masters Voices or Lend Me Your Ears are good guides.
To Mark’s tips I would add speed. A lot of novice speakers go too fast and need to slow down.
Some very wise advise in the comments. Thanks for sharing.
Any reader who might be feeling nervous about giving a speech can hopefully take some reassurance from the fact that some very good speakers who speak with great (apparent!) self-confidence have revealed above how they still have nerves and had to learn.
Very good post and comments. I add:
-Look people in the eye
-Never open with “I don’t like making speeches” or “I didn’t plan to speak” or “I haven’t made any notes” or “I don’t have much to say” anything that makes the audience lack respect for you. You are there to persuade, not seek sympathy!
– If someone else has said it, don’t repeat their arguments.
ALWAYS BE CONCISE – people love a short speech.
I am being cheeky, but I assume the photo – of you, Mark, at the conference podium – doubles up as an example of how not to take a campaign photo… a distant figure, on their own, not doing anything : )
Stuart: Hah, yes indeed!
I’m probably a raher bad speaker, but I’m trying and I think the following might be useful
> Start by raising expectation – say what you’re going to speak about, and why you;re woth listening to
> Keep sentences short. Audiences tend to lose the thread of long ones
> Avoid waffle – keep it clear
> Avoid puzzles – and especially donlt say anything that contradicts itself
> Keep it accessible – make surethe audience can link it in some way to their lives
> End by summarizing, but most importantly, give the audience the feeling it was worth listening to
Those who want to keep it simple should turn on the Word readability option. A F-K reading age of 8 or lower is good for a speech… 18 is incomprehensible!!
Pace? Big difference between conference and village hall. To read or not to read? If you’re reading leave yourself space to ad lib and build confidence to speak from notes.
I agree about the value of feeling nervous. That extra adrenalin can really help you to focus. Actors all know how useful it is.
But nervousness can show in two ways (don’t worry too much about the shakiness). First, people tend to speak too fast, so time your speech and aim at no more than 100 words per minute. Pause between phrases and sentences. Second, the pitch of the voice tends to rise, so do a Maggie and deliberately use a lower register. Control those two aspects and you will look and sound confident.