Leadership communications with Rob Cottingham: Recent Episodes
Rob Cottingham
I've worked as a speechwriter, presentation coach and communication strategist—not to mention delivering my share of speeches. From speechwriting and speaking to traditional and social media, here's my best advice on how leaders can communicate to change how audiences see the world.
Getting carried off on a tangent in an interview or Q&A session can be risky. At best, you spend the time you wanted to use getting your message across on some other topic. At worst, you end up talking about sensitive, damaging topics that endanger your organization's reputation.
This episode, we look at how you get back on track — quickly, honesty and graciously.
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Zane Lee on Unsplash
Rehearsal doesn’t kill spontaneity — it gives you the confidence that lets you be spontaneous. You don't just know the material: you know its emotional and literal meaning,nd you've made your big choices about how you're going to convey it.
If you want to make the most of your speech, you need to rehearse. And to make that rehearsal count, behold: The Ten Commandments of Rehearsal.
Links:
- The elusive Episode 17, where I make my case for rehearsing
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Photo by Kyle Head on Unsplash
Before a speaker steps up to the microphone, there's usually somebody who introduces them. And that introduction could be helping to set the stage and prime the audience.
But too many introductions are just tedious recitals of a speaker's biography. And they're so loooonnnng. Instead of revving an audience up, they put them to sleep.
Let's kill those introductions off once and for all. This episode, we look at what an introduction can do for you and your audience, by promising some combination of six elements: authority, affinity, attraction, value, intrigue and entertainment. We'll talk about how to make your speaker intro effective, engaging and — most important — short!
Music:
- All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Pick up a collection of speeches or quotations from history, and chances are most of those voices belong to men.
That's changing. More women are claiming their time at the microphone. And it turns out the oratory of the past was a lot more female than many of its curators would have us think.
One woman in particular, Dana Rubin, is working to change our understanding of public speaking history — and the role women have played in shaping it. And she's my guest on this episode.
Links:
- The Speaking While Female Speech Bank — a tremendously useful resource for speakers, speechwriters and anyone interested in women's oratory
- The Kickstarter project for the Speaking While Female book: get in early!
- Dana Rubin's firm, Speech Studio
- Dana's LinkedIn group, The Leadership Communications Roundtable — now over 5,000 members strong!
Music:
- All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
You’ve probably heard the expression “stay in your lane.” And sometimes that’s good advice — but right now, we’re facing global emergencies on an unprecedented scale, and we need voices speaking out for truth, democracy, science and our very survival. If you have a platform, you can be one of those voices…even if you aren’t an expert. Here’s how to do it responsibly.
Links:
- That Kris Straub cartoon about Internet "research"
Music:
- All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
There probably isn’t a speechwriter or speaker alive today who hasn’t heard the advice “Tell a story.” But you want them to do more than listen. You want to tell the kind of story your audience will turn into their story. Crafting that story is the heart Tamsen Webster’s terrific new book, Find Your Red Thread. Tamsen joins me this episode to talk about the five steps of an effective Red Thread — which just so happen to be a great way to outline your next speech or op-ed. And we talk about how great stories can move audiences and create change. Links: * Follow Tamsen on Twitter and Facebook * Learn more about Find Your Red Thread * Sign up for Tamsen's newsletter
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Well over a year into remote presentations as the norm, people are getting pretty good at it... but some mistakes are still cropping up again and again.
Last time, we looked at four of the seven deadly sins of online presentations. This time we tour the final three... and then we'll look at how to flip those sins into shining, saintly virtues.
Links:
- My wife Alexandra Samuel has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called Remote, Inc. Highly recommended for making the most of the new workplace!
- Tamsen Webster's new book Find Your Red Thread is an absolute must-read for crafting messages that move audiences. And stay tuned, because she's joining me for an upcoming episode!
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Cullan Smith on Unsplash
Well over a year into remote presentations as the norm, people are getting pretty good at it... but some mistakes are still cropping up again and again.
In this two-episode series, we'll meet the seven deadly sins of online presentations — from not looking at the camera to not knowing your platform. And then we'll look at how to flip those sins into shining, saintly virtues.
Links:
- My wife Alexandra Samuel has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called Remote, Inc. Highly recommended for making the most of the new workplace!
- Tamsen Webster's new book Find Your Red Thread is an absolute must-read for crafting messages that move audiences. And stay tuned, because she's joining me for an upcoming episode!
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Cullan Smith on Unsplash
Sure, you and I would never take someone else’s writing and pretend it was our own. But not all plagiarism is deliberate. It can be surprisingly easy to steal someone else’s words by accident.
Plagiarism scandals have caught up leaders ranging from presidential candidates to university officials. They’ve derailed campaigns and ended careers. Here’s how to keep that from happening to you — by making sure your words, really are your words.
Links:
Care to jog your memory? Here’s the background on Joe Biden’s and Melania Trump’s plagiarism issues.
And in case you missed last episode’s notes:
- My wife Alexandra Samuel has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called Remote, Inc. Highly recommended for making the most of the new workplace!
- I'm thrilled to be reading Tamsen Webster's new book Finding Your Red Thread. Highly recommended for making the most of your message!
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Hand modelling, photography and keyboard in desperate need of cleaning are all me.
So many leadership communications mistakes come down to one thing: not having a clear goal and a roadmap to get there. That’s especially true when it comes to areas where leaders aren’t as familiar with the subject matter.
This episode looks at a high-profile communications failure: an op-ed that blew up in CEO's face, damaged the company's reputation and forced an embarrassing public about-face. We'll look at what went wrong... and how you can keep your communications on track.
The important thing: Don't let stories like this discourage you from speaking up! You can make a positive contribution to the conversation… but it starts with doing the work.
Links:
- Washingtonian CEO Cathy Merrill's op-ed in the Washington Post
- Just one of the news articles on the backlash against her op-ed
- My wife Alexandra Samuel has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called Remote, Inc. Highly recommended for making the most of the new workplace!
- I'm thrilled to be reading Tamsen Webster's new book Finding Your Red Thread. Highly recommended for making the most of your message!
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Fakurian Design on Unsplash
Public speaking has changed a lot in the past year, since conference halls and auditoriums went dark and we traded stages and amplifiers for webcams and video. But those changes can help us be better speakers, when the time comes to return to the stage.
Links: My wife Alexandra Samuel has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called Remote, Inc. There's a chapter on presentations in there that I got to advise on, and it covers some of what I talk about here. (Think she'd be up for an interview in an upcoming episode?)
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
Mispronouncing someone's name from the stage is a lot more than a minor screwup. Here's why speakers should never go to the mic without knowing the correct pronunciation of every name they mention — and why speechwriters should never let them do it.
Links: This episode of KUOW's RadioActive podcast delves into mispronunciation and race. And here's one of my favourite comments on the subject, from actor Uzo Aduba, quoting her mother: "If they can learn to say Tchaikovsky and Michelangelo and Dostoyevsky, they can learn to say Uzoamaka."
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Presenting online? Don't make the mistake of thinking longer is better. When you're speaking via video, you want to keep things short. Here's how to embrace short, even when you're scheduled to run long.
Links: We spoke to Dr. Nick Morgan back in episode 58. His latest book is Can You Hear Me? How to Connect With People In a Virtual World.
And since I recorded this episode, a new book is on the scene: Standout Virtual Events by David Meerman Scott and Michelle Manafy. It's really, really worth reading, whether you're a speaker, an event planner or just someone trying to wrap your mind around how things are changing in the way we come together to share knowledge, ideas and experience.
Photo: Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash
If you're spending all day in Zoom meetings, then it's easy to think that speaking by video automatically means showing your head and shoulders... and nothing else. Let's talk about what you (and your audience) are missing by not letting the rest of your body get in on the act. (The bad news? You're gonna need to start wearing pants again.)
Resource: Hanna Thomas Uose‘s post The Trauma of Zoom
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Image: Robert Thiemann on Unsplash
You might have thought up-close video would be more intimate than speaking from the stage. But one big thing we're learning from remote presentations is this: You need to bring more energy to your speaking style when your audience is at home in front of their screens. Find out why... and how.
Music: All music is by Lee Rosevere. The theme music is "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Image: Thomas Kelley on Unsplash
This time, we look at how the technology visionaries at Mozilla are making the pivot from face-to-face leadership communications to virtual channels. We're joined by Justin O'Kelly, Mozilla's senior executive communications manager.
Links: Mozilla, makers of Firefox, Monitor, Send and more.
Music: All music by Lee Rosevere. Theme: "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Image: from Mozilla
If sharing really is caring, then the content you share needs to be content you really care about — and content your audience will care about too.
This episode we look at content curation... and why just shovelling links onto Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn without care or context isn't just bad for your reputation — right now, it's dangerous to your audience.
Links: I mentioned those mysterious letters "RSS", which really can make your life easier! If you're baffled, here's a pretty good primer.
Feedly is my newsreader of choice. (My wife and I still feel resentful about what happened to Google Reader.)
By the way, the great OG RSS explainer video (which helped launch a thousand imitators) comes from Lee and Sachi Lefever. Some of the references are a little dated nearly a decade later, but I still love it.
Talkwalker is a handy tool with a free option for searching social media for mentions of keywords, hashtags and usernames.
Music: All music by Lee Rosevere. Theme: "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Jessica Lee on Unsplash
With so many face-to-face presentations being cancelled, a lot of speakers are looking at going virtual. But with webinars and online conferences suddenly getting a second look, it’s important to keep in mind their special demands.
This episode, we talk to presentation coach, theorist, blogger, speaker and author Dr. Nick Morgan about what we lose when we go virtual, and how to make up some of that lost emotional connection. And we’ll hear from author and (her delightful description) camp counselor for grownups Kim Werker. In roughly a week, she’s had to move an event months in the planning into cyberspace. She’ll tell us all about it.
This is part of a series on how leadership communicators are grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.
Links:
Here’s Nick’s book on restoring clarity and connection to online conversations, Can You Hear Me? And be sure to check out his classic on moving audiences to action, Give Your Speech, Change the World.
I love everything about Kim’s book Mighty Ugly. And this might be the perfect time to subscribe to her podcast, Mighty Creative. Kim has a great Twitter thread summarizing how her team took their event online. (And that event itself is A Multi-Faith Discussion on the Climate Emergency.)
Music: All music by Lee Rosevere. Theme: "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Image: Based on a photo by Lucrezia Carnelos on Unsplash
Cancelled speaking gigs are a fact of life, but never more than today. And hey: with social distancing and disease prevention rightly taking precedence over oratory, we know better than to feel sorry for ourselves over postponed conferences and scrubbed events.
But when you're left holding a speech without a stage to deliver it on, what's your next move? Instead of letting all your work writing and preparing your presentation go to waste, try these suggestions for getting some real value out of that broken speaking date.
This is the third episode of our five-episode series looking at leadership communications in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
Links: Episode 27 goes into more depth on ways you can spin great content from a speech.
The Nonprofit Technology Network hosts my absolute favourite annual conference. They announced this week they're cancelling it for the year, which is devastating for them because it's where most of their revenue comes from. They do terrific work helping nonprofits make the most of digital tech, and they could really use your support.
Music: All music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Getting leadership communications right is never more important than in the middle of a crisis. And as COVID-19 coronavirus outbreaks happening throughout much of the world, you may well be facing a crisis soon.
Last episode, we talked about planning for your crisis leadership communications. This episode, we look at putting that plan into action with seven key principles:
- Be transparent and honest.
- Communicate early.
- Be proportionate.
- Connect emotionally.
- Be flexible.
- Listen.
- Inspire hope.
And stay tuned all week, as we look at some of the implications of the coronavirus outbreak for leaders and the communications teams that support them.
Be safe, everyone.
Music: All music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Used under a Creative Commons license.
In a crisis, people are looking for reassurance, a sense of security... and leadership. And with COVID-19 coronavirus outbreaks happening across the planet, you may soon need to step up on behalf of your organization — for anything from coping with a supply-chain issue to temporarily shutting your doors. How you communicate will make all the difference for your audience.
This two-part episode looks at effective leadership communications in a crisis. Part one is all about preparation: the plans you can put in place now so you're ready when the storm hits... either with this crisis, or the next one. Among other elements, your plan has to specify goals, target audiences, messages, roles and channels.
And stay tuned all week, as we look at some of the implications of the coronavirus outbreak for leaders and the communications teams that support them.
Music: All music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Incidental music is taken from his latest album, Music for Podcasts: True Crime Edition. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
Are you falling into the trap of sing-song delivery? You could be sapping your speech's strength and breaking your connection to the audience. Here's how to recognize it... and how to stop.
Wondering what's different about this episode? Could be the new theme music!
Links: Episode 51 talks about how to reclaim your natural voice by talking to an audience of one (even when it's actually one thousand).
Those voice acting lessons I mention are at Vancouver's On the Mic Training. Highly recommended!
Music: All music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Incidental music is taken from his latest album, Music for Podcasts: True Crime Edition. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Marius Masalar on Unsplash
Sooner or later speechwriters and other leadership communications practitioners find ourselves talking to a subject matter expert: somebody (usually part of your client's organization) who’s going to give some of their time and knowledge to make your speech or article better. Here's how to get the most out of their time and yours.
Thanks to Clare Kumar, Deb Rohac, Patti Bacchus, Evan Leeson, Ben Roberts, Ben Lucier, Mark Busse, Rob Beggs, Susan RoAne, Jamie Cohen, Luis Giraldo, James Glave, Anthony Floyd, Andréa Coutu, Richard Eriksson, Robert Beggs and Michele Owens who all weighed in online with their advice for talking to subject matter experts.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "And So Then," "Ingenuity," "More On That Later," "Looking Back," "Systematic" and "Sad Marimba Planet." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: James Lee on Unsplash
It can be tempting to sell from the stage... especially when you know some of the people in your audience could be great customers. But resist that temptation. Here's why you should leave the sales pitch behind when you head to the mic — and how you can do a much better sales job if you aren't selling.
Links: Go listen to The Freenoter, a great podcast by Tamsen and Tom Webster about making unpaid speaking opportunities pay off for you and your audience — without selling from the stage.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "4th Avenue Walkup," "Solutions(a)," and "Puzzle Pieces." Used under a Creative Commons license.
"Stage Seller's Rag" composed and performed by Rob Cottingham. The album drops next month... into a bay, weighted down by rocks.
Having trouble connecting emotionally with a speech you're writing or rehearsing? Maybe it's because you're trying to speak to the whole audience instead of just one person.
This episode, here's why you may want to take a leaf from TV cop shows and zoom way in.
(Note: This is episode of the podcast includes mild profanity: The word "bullsh*t" is used several times.)
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Looking Back," "Lost Days," "Hold Music" and "Here's the Thing." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash
I'm always telling you to tell stories... so for the 50th episode of the podcast, I'm going to share one of my own. It's about what a dead pigeon taught me about being a good speechwriter.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "More On That Later," "Places Unseen," "Sad Marimba Planet," "Small Steps," "It Was Like That When I Got Here," "Landing" and "Solutions (c)." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Dawood Javed on Unsplash
Coming up empty as you try to write your speech? Wondering why your presentations aren't landing quite as well as you know they should? You probably know you should connect emotionally with your audience — but maybe you need to think through just what kind of emotional connection you're both looking for.
This episode, we look at six kinds of emotional connection, and how you can build them: confidence, trust, understanding, appreciation, shared values and what I call the mensch factor.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "In a Moment," "Under Suspicion" and "Places Unseen." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Will O on Unsplash
For some reason, we love to hear how superheroes got their powers — their origin stories. And audiences will want to hear yours, too. Here's how to tell the story of how you got here in a way that connects with your audience and even moves them to action... faster (cough) than a speaking bullet.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Swiftwind," "Twitter Will Kill Us All," "Pensacola Twilight," "Atmospheres" and "Thoughtful." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Andrew Martin from Pixabay
As leaders, it can be tempting to forget that not everyone likes being the centre of attention. And when you have an audience, you can all too easily throw a harsh, unforgiving spotlight onto someone who isn't ready for it.
This episode, we look at how to wield your audience's attention responsibly, whether it's from the stage or online.
Links: Skip Weisman was kind enough to let me share his story with you. https://www.yourchampionshipcompany.com/
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "It Was Like That When I Got Here," "More On That Later" and "Systematic." Used under a Creative Commons license.
This summer’s film Long Shot is an entire movie about how speechwriter and speaker relate to each other. And it has something to teach us about making that relationship work — and how the key ingredient is time.
If you're thinking of catching it, the movie's a lot of fun, even if (or probably because) it isn't exactly a documentary portrayal of political speechwriting. Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen are great, and their chemistry is super (although, ahem, that's a line I don't recommend speechwriters cross with their clients).
Links: Most important, props to Long Shot's writers, Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah.
This episode name-checks a bunch of movies and shows, including Long Shot, Speechless, The Good Wife, BrainDead, The Good Fight and House of Cards.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "As I Was Saying," "Small Steps" and "Waterfront." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Fabrizio Verrecchia on Unsplash
What does a speech look like stripped of the craft of speechwriting? HBO's hit show Succession gave us a glimpse with a hilarious eulogy delivered by character Connor Roy... and in the process, helps speechwriters and speakers avoid delivering dull, lifeless speeches.
Links: Here's that eulogy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEdOB9OIh70.
Succession on HBO: https://www.hbo.com/succession.
The writing credits for that episode of Succession go to series creator Jesse Armstrong (https://twitter.com/jessearmstrong1), writer Georgia Pritchett (https://twitter.com/georgiapudding) and story editor Alice Birch (https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/alice-birch).
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Drive 'til Dawn," "Thought Bubbles," "More on That Later" and "Where Was I." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Humam on Unsplash
You can write a speech for a someone. Read it through. Rehearse with the speaker. But you won’t really know how effective it is unless you’re there when they deliver it.
This episode: why speechwriters should fight for a spot in the audience, and how to use it to write better speeches.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "You're Enough (version a)," "Start the Day" and "Not My Problem." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash
A lot of speakers who'd happily get up in front of a thousand-person audience start getting the shakes at the thought of speaking to children or (gulp) teens. Fortunately, we have child-and-teen author Robin Stevenson here to share her experience speaking in front of countless school auditoriums and classrooms. She'll tell us how you can keep your next young audience rapt from beginning to end.
About my guest: Robin Stevenson is the award-winning author of 25 books of fiction and nonfiction for kids and teen, including the Stonewall Honor book Pride: Celebrating Diversity and Community. Robin speaks to groups of all sizes and all ages, from librarians and teachers, to aspiring writers — but she particularly enjoys presenting to kids and teens and has visited hundreds of schools all across Canada. She lives on Vancouver Island with her family.
Links:
You can find Robin on the web (http://www.robinstevenson.com) and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/robin_stevenson).
Here are some of Robin's latest books:
- Kid Activists (https://www.quirkbooks.com/book-authors/robin-stevenson) — "Moving, funny, and totally true childhood biographies of Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Helen Keller, Malala Yousafzai, and 12 other inspiring activists."
- My Body My Choice (https://www.orcabook.com/My-Body-My-Choice-P3991.aspx) — "The long fight for abortion rights is being picked up by a new generation of courageous, creative and passionate activists. This book is about the history, and the future, of that fight."
- Ghost's Journey (https://www.rebelmountainpress.com/ghosts-journey--a-refugee-story.html) — "This book is based on the true story of Eka, Rainer, and their cat, Ghost. When life in Indonesia becomes too dangerous for LGBTQ people, Ghost and her two dads are forced to leave their home and escape to freedom in Canada. The story is told from the perspective of Ghost."
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Where Was I" and "Thought Bubbles." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Roksolana Zasiadko on Unsplash
Writing is usually a pretty solitary pursuit. But solitary doesn’t have to mean isolated. Find out how Elana Aptowitzer created a community of speechwriters inside the Canadian public service — and how you can start building a community of your own.
About my guest: Elana Aptowitzer heads up speechwriting at Canada’s Department of National Defence. She launched the federal government's first speechwriters' community of practice, where public service speechwriters can share tools, resources and best practices.
In the last three years, she has received several awards for continual professional excellence in her demanding role, including the 2019 Emerging Leader award from the Deputy Minister and Chief of the Defence Staff. Elana has taught annual speechwriting seminars at Carleton University for three years, and this year she became a full-time public-servant-in-residence there, developing and teaching a speechwriting training program for fourth-year undergraduate students.
She holds a Masters in Strategic Communications and Speechwriting from American University in Washington, DC.
Links: Dana Rubin runs the 3,000-member-strong Leadership Communications Roundtable on LinkedIn. (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/145130/)
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Night Caves" and "Thinking It Over." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Mario Purisic on Unsplash
We’ve focused on speaking and speechwriting in the podcast — but there’s more than one way to connect with an audience. And one of the best: the venerable op-ed piece.
About my guest: Today’s guest knows op-eds better than anyone I know: Professor Mira Sucharov is the author of Public Influence, and a prolific writer of op-eds published in such outlets as Haaretz, The Forward, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Ottawa Citizen, The Daily Beast and Huffington Post.
Dr. Sucharov is an associate professor of political science at Carleton University, and the author of several other books, including serving as co-editor of Social Justice and Israel/Palestine: Foundational & Contemporary Debates. She's is a four-time teaching award winner, including receiving the 2017 OCUFA award for teaching excellence — the highest university teaching award in Ontario. And she won the 2019 Carleton University Faculty of Public Affairs award for Excellence in Public Commentary.
Links: Public Influence: A Guide to Op-Ed Writing and Social Media Engagement is Dr. Sucharov's terrific book on writing op-eds and making them a springboard to productive conversation. It's available on Amazon (U.S., Canada, U.K.), Indigo/Chapters, the University of Toronto Press and fine booksellers everywhere.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Sad Marimba Planet," "Betrayal," and "Not My Problem." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Mira Cosic from Pixabay
If you really want your audience to care about what you're saying, they need to know you care about it too. And that starts with the attitude you project... and the stands you're willing to take.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Thought Bubbles," "HEAVN," and "It Was Like That When I Got Here." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Lee has released a beautiful album in honour of Apollo 11's 50th anniversary, and you can buy a limited-edition CD. I did and I'm delighted with it. Give it a listen here.
Photo: Eirik Skarstein on Unsplash
Quotations are one of a speechwriter's essential tools — right up there with metaphors, jokes and 3 a.m. espresso. But borrowed eloquence doesn't always work out, and as handy as a quotation can be, using it requires care.
This episode looks at how to use quotations to elevate your whole speech, and how another person's fine words can make yours shine even brighter.
Links: I mentioned them last time, but here's another link to Quote Investigator — one of the great services of the Internet.
And yes, Marlene Dietrich really said that. It's from Marlene Dietrich's ABC: Wit, Wisdom, & Recipes.
I mentioned Ambrose Bierce; he's the author of The Devil's Dictionary, which is filled with marvellously snarky definitions.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Bigger Questions," "Thinking It Over," "Start the Day," and "Waterfront." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Lee has released a beautiful album in honour of Apollo 11's 50th anniversary, and you can buy a limited-edition CD. I did and I'm delighted with it. Give it a listen here.
Most of us like to think of ourselves as basically honest people. But as speakers and speechwriters, it's surprisingly easy to find ourselves misleading our audiences: accidentally or (gulp) deliberately.
Find out how — even with the best intentions — you may be leading your audience astray... and how to get back onto the path of truth.
Warning: Contains traces of scolding and a glancing reference to the current American president.
Links: More about Albert Mehrabian and his work on non-verbal communication.
And about the aerodynamics of bumblebees.
One way that bumblebees definitely can't fly.
My favourite resource for checking quotations and their origins: Quote Investigator.
How graphs can mislead.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Night Caves," "Everywhere," "Systematic," "We Don’t Know How It Ends," and "Saturn V." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Lee has released a beautiful album in honour of Apollo 11's 50th anniversary, and you can buy a limited-edition CD. I did and I'm delighted with it. Give it a listen here.
Photo: Jordan Madrid on Unsplash
Political protest is on the rise — and with it, a growing need for leaders to speak to protest rallies. This episode, we talk with veteran environmental and climate campaigner Tzeporah Berman about rally speeches: how to plan, write and deliver them for maximum impact.
This two-part episode starts with a discussion on planning your speech and thinking about strategy, and concludes in part two by talking about writing and delivery.
About our guest: Tzeporah has over two decades of experience designing campaigns and speaking to crowds small and large (and very large). She's one of the leading Canadian voices on climate, energy and sustainability — and she's had a tremendous impact. There are 40 million hectares of old-growth forest that are still around today in no small part because of her work.
She’s an adjunct professor at York University, and works as a strategic advisor to several First Nations, environmental groups and philanthropic foundations on climate and energy issues. She co-chaired the Alberta government’s Oilsands Advisory Working Group, which developed consensus recommendations on the province’s climate plan.
Tzeporah she co-founded ForestEthics — now called Stand.earth — nearly 20 years ago, and recently returned to the organization as their international program director.
Links: I had the good fortune of collaborating with Tzeporah on a blog post about speaking to rallies a few years ago. Two years on, it's still the most popular post on my blog.
Here's more information about Tzeporah from Stand.earth, formerly ForestEthics. You can also find Tzeporah on Twitter and Facebook.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Start the Day" and "Where Was I". Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Kris Krug
Political protest is on the rise — and with it, a growing need for leaders to speak to protest rallies. This episode, we talk with veteran environmental and climate campaigner Tzeporah Berman about rally speeches: how to plan, write and deliver them for maximum impact.
This two-part episode starts with a discussion on planning your speech and thinking about strategy, and concludes in part two by talking about writing and delivery.
About our guest: Tzeporah has over two decades of experience designing campaigns and speaking to crowds small and large (and very large). She's one of the leading Canadian voices on climate, energy and sustainability — and she's had a tremendous impact. There are 40 million hectares of old-growth forest that are still around today in no small part because of her work.
She’s an adjunct professor at York University, and works as a strategic advisor to several First Nations, environmental groups and philanthropic foundations on climate and energy issues. She co-chaired the Alberta government’s Oilsands Advisory Working Group, which developed consensus recommendations on the province’s climate plan.
Tzeporah she co-founded ForestEthics — now called Stand.earth — nearly 20 years ago, and recently returned to the organization as their international program director.
Links: I had the good fortune of collaborating with Tzeporah on a blog post about speaking to rallies a few years ago. Two years on, it's still the most popular post on my blog.
Here's more information about Tzeporah from Stand.earth, formerly ForestEthics. You can also find Tzeporah on Twitter and Facebook.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Start the Day" and "Where Was I". Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Flickr user Leo Reynolds
Want to be a better speechwriter? One of the best ways to improve your speechwriting is to get out from behind your keyboard and get in front of an audience. Why speechwriters should also be speakers — and how you can get started.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Here's Where Things Get Interesting," "Thought Bubbles," "More On That Later" and "HEAVN." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: by Rob Cottingham.
Links: I wasn't kidding about loving to speak.
It may be in a media interview, a Q&A, a debate or a townhall. But when you're a leader, chances are sooner or later you're going to face tough questions. It just comes with the territory.
The key to being ready for tough questions? Equally tough preparation. And that means fighting off the instinct to lob (or ask for) softballs... an instinct that just might be one of the reasons for this week's biggest U.S. political story.
Links: Here's the electrifying exchange between Kamala Harris and Joe Biden at this week's Democratic debate.
And if you'd like to see a genuine trainwreck of media coaching with the media coach in the room, there's this schadenfreude-inspiring interview with Ken Starr.
And finally, big thanks to Dana Rubin for her very helpful feedback on last week's episode!
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Puzzle Pieces," "Ingenuity," Sky Chaser," "Start the Day" and "Betrayal." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Laura Lee Moreau on Unsplash
What does acting have to do with authenticity? More than you might think. This episode, we look at how the tools actors bring to their most compelling performances can help you connect with your audience.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Dusk Cathedral," "0___0," "Swiftwind" and "We're Almost There." Used under a Creative Commons license. (And check out this advance single from Lee's latest project, an album celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.)
Photo: mostafa meraji on Unsplash. From the photographer: "Garage Theater is a theater company from Qom, Iran (....) Actor: Hani Abdolmajid & Vehut"
Links: The voice acting classes I mention come from On The Mic Training in Vancouver.
Here's my vocal warmup for sibilance, and a few others you can try.
My thanks to Dana Rubin for her feedback on the past few episodes. Be sure to check out her online archive of women's speeches, Speaking While Female.
There's no well-worn, signposted career path to being a speechwriter. That's the bad news. The good news? There are plenty of other paths in. This episode, we look at how to break into speechwriting — and some lessons from my own first big break.
Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Decompress," "All the Answers," "Thinking It Over" and "Telecom." Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Links: Audrey McLaughlin's leadership campaign gave me my first big break, thanks to campaign manager (and now artist!) Valorie Preston.
None of us is perfect, and sooner or later, leaders have to apologize for something. Sometimes it’s something out of your control; sometimes it really is on you.
Apologize well, and you can come out with stronger relationships and a better reputation. Apologize badly, and you can make a bad situation worse.
So in today's episode, we look at why it’s worth apologizing… how some people screw it up… and how to deliver an apology that brings some genuine closure.
Music: New theme music this episode! Introducing “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).
Incidental music by Lee Rosevere, (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “Let’s Start at the Beginning,” “And So Then,” “Puzzle Pieces,” “Looking Back” and “Vancouver City Centre” as well as “Starling” by Podington Bear. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Check out Lee's very cool upcoming project, an album celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Photo: Lina Trochez on Unsplash
Over the past 29 episodes, we've looked at how you can be a better, more effective speaker and speechwriter. For episode 30, let's magnify your impact — helping your whole organization tap into the power of public speaking.
Also, I reveal my hidden agenda.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash
This episode, we talk about how expanding the kinds of media you like to read, watch and listen to can make you a better speechwriter and speaker.
Links: The 100-Mile Diet by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Eiliv-Sonas Aceron on Unsplash
Niches are great places to develop a deep understanding of audience and subject matter, and to build community... but they can get pretty insular. Whether you're a speaker or a speechwriter, here's how to keep your work fresh, by drawing inspiration from outside your bubble.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Yuki Dog on Unsplash
Speeches are amazing. They can move audiences, inspire crowds... and they can help you create new content, quickly and easily! In this episode, we'll look at 10 ways you can repurpose your next speech into high-impact video, audio, text and images.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Kenny Luo on Unsplash
When it comes to your organization's leadership speaking, you have strategic resources in play and strategic values on the line. That makes a pretty good case for a speaking strategy. Here's how to take the first steps toward crafting one.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Hendrik Morkel on Unsplash
The applause from your speech may have faded, but the connection you make with your audience doesn't have to. Engaging online can help you deepen and broaden your audience relationship, while building a growing network that may become one of your most valuable assets: your platform.
Links: It's been a few years since Platform by Michael Hyatt came out. It may not include the latest news on social networks and mobile engagement, but the principles will still be sound years from now. Strongly recommended. There are newer books, but this is the one I keep coming back to.
Cliff Atkinson's The Backchannel is nearly a decade old and a lot has changed; I'd love to see him revisit it. But he has some excellent advice on engagement specifics, including handling the Twitter backchannel during your presentation (which I didn't touch on in this episode — it was already the longest yet!) By the way, Cliff is the author of the utterly essential Beyond Bullet Points.
And here's my blog post for speechwriters on how to call on your social network to help you craft your next opus.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: jesse orrico on Unsplash
Who are the top performers who need to review their performances so they can improve? Athletes... actors... and speakers like you! This episode, let's talk about how to review and improve your speaking and your content.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Stink Pickle on Unsplash
This episode ties together everything we've talked about around speech delivery with one big idea for truly powerful speaking: commitment.
Links: Here’s David Granirer’s long-running comedy course at Vancouver’s Langara College. David’s also the founder and driving force behind Stand Up for Mental Health.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Helena Lopes on Unsplash
Break out of the lectern cage! Make the stage your own... and learn how to use movement to deepen your presentation's connection to your audience. (Also, I go off on that whole "podium vs. lectern" thing.)
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Bill Williams on Unsplash
When you treat your voice as an instrument (and not an afterthought!) great things happen to your speeches... and to your audiences. This episode, we break down three powerful vocal tools: pitch, pace and volume.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Ira Selendripity on Unsplash
For once, the conventional wisdom has it right: eye contact with your audience is powerful. Here's how to put it to work for you — even when you have to read your speech from the page.
Links: That moment in Baby Mama with Tina Fey and Steve Martin
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Charles 🇵🇭 on Unsplash
Roll up your sleeves... because this episode we talk about the tools of the public speaking trade. And one tool in particular: your microphone.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash
I'm all about encouraging speakers to prepare and rehearse — but let's face it. There are times when you just haven't had a moment to prepare, and now it's 10 minutes 'til stage time.
So maybe this isn't going to be a virtuoso performance. But it can still be a really good one. Here's how to lift a speech from the page when you only have a few minutes to prepare.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Veri Ivanova on Unsplash
Think rehearsal and preparation kills your spontaneity? This episode could change your mind — by showing you how rehearsal actually frees you to make spontaneous choices in the moment. Tips, techniques... and an excuse to use coloured highlighters. What more could you ask from a podcast?
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Manuel Nägeli on Unsplash.
This episode, we pivot from speechwriting to speaking itself. And we start with the single biggest way most speakers can level up: authentic performance.
Links: Steal the Show by Michael Port is a smashing book on speaking and performance. I reviewed it a while back, and it's an easy book to recommend.
Music: “Upbeat” by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Daniel Sandvik on Unsplash
How often have you asked for feedback with "let me know what you think"?
If you're trying to spark conversation, it isn't a bad gambit. But if you want actionable feedback on your speech, you need to use a much more focused approach. Here's how to ask the right person, for the right feedback, at the right time.
Music: "Upbeat" by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Wynand van Poortvliet on Unsplash
Your speech has brought your audience on an emotional odyssey, and you've reached your narrative destination together. Now's the time to invite them to continue the journey themselves—with a powerful call to action and conclusion.
And you can do it in four steps: challenge, call, recipe and reward. Here's how.
Music: "Upbeat" by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Ian Parker on Unsplash
...Wait, what?
By all means, meet — or beat — your audience's expectations for what they'll get out of your speech. But not for what you put into it. Here's how to be surprising... and unpredictable, but reliable.
Music: "Upbeat" by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Felix Mittermeier on Unsplash
Every instinct tells us to make our audiences comfortable. Yet a little discomfort can lead to some of the most powerful experiences your speech can offer. Here's how.
Links: "Nanette" by Hannah Gadsby on Netflix, and Gadsby's speech on "The Good Men"
Music: "Upbeat" by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash
The world is full of speeches weighed down with terrible slide decks. Don't let yours be one of them. This episode, we look at how to make PowerPoint work well for you and your audience — and I make the case for not using slides at all.
Links: Here are the books I mentioned at the end: slide:ology by Nancy Duarte, Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, and Beyond Bullet Points by Cliff Atkinson.
And here's an article about why people retain less information when it's projected onto a screen and read out loud to them.
Music: "Upbeat" by John Luc Hefferman and "The 49th Street Galleria" by Chris Zabriskie. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Photo: Arūnas Naujokas on Unsplash
When your speech unleashes a flood of statistics, you can lose your audience's interest — and their emotional connection — fast. Let's talk about how to chose a gem of a statistic and put it in the perfect setting... and then make it part of what drives your story, instead of dragging it off course.
Links: Nancy Duarte's great book Resonate includes an account of her work with Al Gore on the speech that became the Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. There's so much more to the book than just that story — including a great tool for analyzing the narrative structure of a speech, case studies of powerful STAR (Something They'll Always Remember) moments and much more. Please, go read it.
Music: "Upbeat" by Jon Luc Hefferman.
Photo: Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
One of the most effective ways a speech can hold an audience's attention is suspense. And withholding a little information can whet their appetite for the answer to the question, "What happens next?"
Links: Story by Robert McKee. He wrote it with screenwriters in mind, but there's a lot in here that speaks to the craft of writing speeches, too.
Music: "Upbeat" by Jon Luc Hefferman, and short excerpts from "Snowmen" by Kai Engel and "Cylinder Three" by Chris Zabriskie. Used under a Creative Commons non-commercial attribution license.
Photo: JR Korpa on Unsplash
The folks in the room are just one of the audiences your speech is going to reach. Here's how to think through who else may be listening in... and how you'll account for them.
Music: "Upbeat" by Jon Luc Hefferman, and Cheese by David Szesztay. Used under a Creative Commons non-commercial attribution license.
Plain language can make your speech a lot clearer, and allow your ideas and thinking to shine through. But there are times when speechwriters and speakers want to reach for the more complex words... and even use (gasp!) jargon.
Music: “Upbeat” by Jon Luc Hefferman, used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license.
Links:
- The wonderful Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe
- Thing Explainer at Amazon.com (affiliate link)
Photo: Raphael Schaller on Unsplash
Between "helpful" suggestions from others and your own creativity, it often isn't easy keeping a speech on topic and on track. Here are some tools for sticking to the path — and a few tips on handling unavoidable detours.
Music: “Upbeat” by Jon Luc Hefferman, used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license.
Photo: Jamie Street on Unsplash
You've probably always been told to project confidence and certainty when you're speaking from the stage. But if you want to truly connect with your audience, a little vulnerability in your speech can go a long way.
Links: Probably the best-known writer and speaker on vulnerability is Brené Brown. If you want to explore more on the subject, check out her book Daring Greatly.
You might also like my blog post on how to know if you're approaching vulnerability effectively — and authentically.
Music: “Upbeat” by Jon Luc Hefferman, used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license
Photo: Snowflake photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
We've talked about your speech's one big story, the narrative arc. But running in tandem with it is something at least as important to your audience: the emotional arc.
Music: “Upbeat” by Jon Luc Hefferman, used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license
There are almost as many ways to approach writing a speech as there are speeches. But each one boils down to a story — one where the audience can identify with the protagonist, and that pulls them forward to the conclusion. Here's how to make your speech's story a powerful, compelling one.
Music: “Upbeat” by Jon Luc Hefferman, used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license
Photo: From a talk at Interesting Vancouver 2014
Before you can move an audience to where you'd like them to be, you need to know them. And that means a lot more than a head count. Here's what to look for, and where to find it — so you know exactly how to reach and move them.
Music: "Upbeat" by Jon Luc Hefferman, used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license
The first thing you need to know before you start crafting a speech is this: what's your goal? What do you want your audience to think, feel and do at the end of your speech? Everything else follows from that.
Links: One of my favourite speechwriting books: Dr. Nick Morgan's Give Your Speech, Change the World
Music: "Upbeat" by Jon Luc Hefferman, used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license