TEN COMMANDMENTS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

Written by: Promise Edem Nukunu

 

Former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address was delivered in just over two minutes and consisted of only 269 words. It is however touted till today as one of the greatest speeches in American history. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Kwame Nkrumah’s Independence Day broadcast, Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech, Barrack Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” address at the 2004 Democratic Congress and Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s rallying cry to Britain in his “We shall fight them on the beaches…” and “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” speeches in 1940 all serve to confirm the beauty of communication when it is well done. Whether it is written, acted, spoken, historic or fictional, there is something about good communication that stands the test of time.

I really enjoyed listening to former German President Horst Koehler delivering his lecture on “Walking the Tightrope: Balancing State, Market and Society” at the Legon Great Hall to mark the launch of the John A. Kufuor foundation. While most people were assimilating his thought-provoking views on the social capital market and fitting it into their capitalist, socialist or centrist frameworks, I just chose to focus on the beauty of effective public speaking at work.

My interest was in how a man who spoke so differently and did not even come from our part of the world could endear himself so well to the packed audience and connect so directly to the issues underpinning our very existence. It wasn’t so much what was said as how it was delivered. For instance, he borrowed from political economist Albert Hirschman and likened the situation in a developing society with still vast differences in living standards to the response of drivers stuck in a traffic jam. He said, “When, as typical, one of the lanes at last moves forward again, even those drivers still stuck in the other lanes are usually relieved, because they assume that soon their lane will start to move, too. Only if it doesn’t and time passes further, their frustration doubles and their anger mounts.”

At another point, in apparent reference to the temptation to settle for short-term solutions, he said “For that reason, all matters concerning the reward for achievement, the openness for talent and the distribution of economic success and growing wealth deserve the keenest political attention. The temptation to hit and run – to make money and flee the country – must be ruled out. And neither will the opposite, the Robin Hood approach – take thoughtless from the rich and give to the poor – do it, for it will sooner throttle the initiative of the productive than end the plight of the afflicted.

Martin Luther King Jnr’s “I have a Dream” speech has been hailed as one of the most influential speeches of all time. Apart from the timing and significance of the address, the compelling nature of the text contributed to making it such a timeless message. Speaking to the issue of racial inequality, King said, “It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”

Public speaking is not just about great content. Other factors like style, articulation, language, body language and the use of illustrations and anecdotes also matter.

In case you’re still not convinced, ask yourself who is the most oft-quoted head of state in Ghana? Is it not surprising that almost five decades years after leaving power, Kwame Nkrumah’s speeches remain the ones most frequently cited among all Ghanaian leaders? The man understood timing, style, crowd dynamics and the symbolism and iconography that countless leaders throughout history have often used to their advantage.

10 Commandments of Public Speaking

If public speaking is so essential for leadership success, what are the critical success factors? Here are ten attributes of the world’s best speakers. I have chosen to explain each one with a famous quote on public speaking:

1. Ability to Speak without Fear. “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” ~ Jerry Seinfeld (American comedian).

2. Effective Delivery. “There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” ~ Dale Carnegie (Author of “How to Win Friends and Influence People”)

3. Brevity. “Be sincere; be brief; be seated.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd President of the United States)

4. Ability to Connect. “Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882, Philosopher and Poet).

5. Command of Their Subject. “Grasp the subject, the words will follow. ~ Cato The Elder (234 BC-149 BC, Roman statesman)

6. A sense of Timing. “Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening.” ~ Dorothy Sarnoff (1914-2008, American operatic soprano, musical theatre actress, and self-help guru).

7. Passion. “Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.” ~ D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930, English author and literary critic).

8. Constant Preparedness. “It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” ~ Mark Twain (1835-1910, Author and humorist)

9. Emotional Maturity. “Speak when you are angry—and you will make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” ~ Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990, Formulator of the Peter Principle).

10. That rare ability to actively engage people without really saying anything. “Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.”— Evan Esar

I hope you have enjoyed these thoughts. Get to work today. And may your next speech be better than the last one.

Peace & Many Blessings,

PROMISE EDEM NUKUNU