Delivery, Delivery... and Delivery.
For the past few months I've spent much of my time on high-level oratory and pitching coaching and training, as well as delivering quite a few big audience gigs. On every occasion I have said that PowerPoint is Public Speaking Enemy Number One.
Churchill always comes up one way or another; sneak a peek at the opening of his speech, America Joins the Allies for a terrific opening. I also find myself referring to Obama. Once, and only once, I had to defend my opinion that he is one of the best orators and speechmakers of the modern age (despite his present troubles...).
For the record, here are a few examples that should convince you Obama is one of the best.
In A More Perfect Union he transforms what could have been reductive, polarising and miserable discourse on race to make it about the Constitution of the USA. If you have a keynote to deliver, read the critique and see how it's done.
Once he has become Commander in Chief he conciously shifts gear, as his State of the Union shows. No longer is Obama the aspiring candidate and there is a steeliness and authority in his tone.
Both of the above should be enough, but of course the best orators have always been able to use humour. So The Donald Trumped and Can he do a Vote of Thanks show that yes, he can deliver a laugh line as well as any stand-up.
Listen, and learn.
P.S. Follow me on twitter! @russellwardrop
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Are You Funny? Does it Matter?
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