Do politicians have a responsibility to speak well?
The art of public speaking is a hot topic in the UK this week due to the poor speaking we are witnessing as we tune in to watch and listen to yet another Prime Minister struggling to string together a collection of words they think the public want to hear. It is not just a problem for this week, it seems to have become ingrained.
I have been asked to share my expert opinion on this subject a number of times this week for the BBC and so it has stirred up my ongoing frustration with the dire display of leadership behaviour we are seeing when our politicians speak. The voice of our Prime Minister is an extremely powerful tool, the world is listening, and I am shocked by the lack of care taken to ensure that our leaders are equipped to speak with honesty, humanity, authenticity and integrity. Further, I’m shocked that many leaders don’t appreciate the importance of communicating effectivley.
Politicians do not have it easy in the current climate and it is completely understandable that many excellent politicians wouldn’t even consider stepping up to the plate to be of service to a nation full of angry, hurting, volatile and sceptical human beings who feel lost and betrayed. As well as this, it is very true that not all capable and effective public servants are best suited to speaking in public, regardless of the climate. However, I argue that those who do make the choice to take a position in leadership must demonstrate excellent communication skills and regard good speaking integral to their role. As our nation and the world listens, hoping for stability and safety, our Prime Minister needs to find a way to connect on a human level through speaking, it is an essential part of the job.
If we take a moment to think back on the speeches which we have heard recently from our politicians, we will remember words such as integrity, stability, confidence, compassion, unite, deliver, professionalism, accountability and trust. These are all great words but they are over used, regurgitated and repeated too often by our politicians and when delivered without thought, intention and passion they fail to resonate, leading us to feel underwhelmed. It is far more effective to say only a few words one really means than a collection of words one thinks everybody wants to hear. As a young actor I learned many lessons about perfomance and applied them in my role as an executive speaker coach. As I’m writing this, three great lessons come to mind,
1 - Do less
2 - If you don’t believe it, your audience never will
3 - Never under estimate your audience
It is more than just words! Words alone will never be enough to make any kind of lasting impact. A great speaker will bring their whole mind, body and voice to the occasion when they speak. In doing so, the listener is able to receive the message on a deeper level by reading familiar body language, hearing and feeling emotion through varied pitch and tone born from rigorous thought and intention and aligning with the relational rhythm, pace and language of the speaker. When the speaker connects with the listener using these basic human speaking skills, the listener can fully understand and appreciate the message. Even if we don’t agree with the message we will fully understand it, having shared some common ground and connected on a human level. Yes, I did say ‘basic’, this is basic human stuff, the speaker just has to give it some thought and respect.
I am really concerned for our politicians because they do not seem to have anyone helping them with their public speaking preparation and mastery. For example, why was our new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak put in a position where he was having to read words he clearly did not know from a teleprompter live on television? He looked stunned, out of his death and wooden. I have seen him speak in the past and this is not his usual behaviour, in fact in the past he has come across as a smart, capable, eloquent politician. Who could have allowed that to happen? Think about this on a broader scale, this man now represents our nation. How do we want to be perceived? Can we, at least, give our Prime Minister the best tools to deliver the best version of himself so that he can represent our country to the best of his ability?
You know what, you can’t please everyone! Even if you work hard to be the best orator this world have ever known some people just won’t like you whatever you do. So why bother? I argue that anyone in a position of influence has a responsibility to communicate effectively and consistently on a human level, taking extra care with the power of their voice to limit damage and nurture positive change. Despite all our evolution and advances, human connection through speaking is still the glue that keeps us together and gives us hope. It is time for our leaders to use their voice, give us more than just words and SPEAK TO US!
