The authoritarian story behind Donald Trump’s inaugural address
Last week, the good folks at Global’s BC1 news channel asked for my analysis of Donald Trump’s inaugural address. You’ll probably be less than surprised to learn I wasn’t a fan… and not just because it was pretty tedious.
Stuck for a beginning to your speech? Here are 13 quick ways to get moving.
Figuring out how your speech is going to start stymies a lot of writers. I’ve spent too many hours staring at the blank screen, starting a paragraph, backspacing, starting again, backspacing, doing the dishes, starting a paragraph, backspacing… It’s...
Communicators, it’s time to end audience abuse.
Audience abuse comes in many forms. It happens in speeches. An unprepared speaker who just can’t communicate. A bait-and-switch session that doesn’t deliver what it promised. A speaker who spends their time pitching themselves. A speaker who leaves you...
A speechwriting lesson from House of Cards
I’m (finally) watching the convention episode (“Chapter 48”) of season 4 of House of Cards. And early on, there’s a great exchange between a new speechwriter and the pair of writers who’ve been with the Underwoods from the beginning....
Speaker as performer: Michael Port’s “Steal the Show”
When I coach speakers, there are many moments that feel like breakthroughs. When they show a little vulnerability, and share something of themselves. Or when they internalize the text of a speech well enough to hit every point effortlessly. But few moments give me the...
Why, yes — I’d LOVE to speak at your event
Public speaking and speechwriting: the essential guides
Looking for advice on public speaking, speechwriting and leadership communications? Here are some of my most comprehensive posts, on topics that people ask me about most often.
