Most of the articles, blog posts and “tweets” I’ve read about reading a speech suggest you avoid doing it at all costs. The most common arguments for not reading a speech are:
- it’s difficult to connect with your audience when you read your speech (lack of eye contact).
- it’s hard to do it well unless you are a trained professional (i.e. radio broadcaster or news anchor).
While I understand both arguments, I don’t agree with them 100%.
Yes, it’s difficult to make eye contact if you keep your head buried in your papers the entire time, but you don’t have to do that. If you format your paper correctly (using only the top quarter of the page with your speech on a lectern), your eyes will not travel far down the page. It also will help to read the speech a few times BEFORE it’s time to deliver it.
You also have the option of doing what Martin Luther King Jr. did while delivering the “I have a dream” speech (yes, he read it). Look down, look up and then say the words. If you want to see what I’m talking about, watch the video:
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As for not doing it well … that’s a weak argument.
Most presenters aren’t skilled at giving presentations, but you don’t tell them not to do it because they’re not professionals. You tell them to get instruction so they can do it better.
Most presenters are not skilled at using PowerPoint, but the solution is not to stop using it. It’s to get instruction so they’ll be able to use it more effectively.
And most speakers are not skilled at reading a speech, but the solution is not to avoid reading a speech. It’s to get instruction so they’ll be able to do it better.
Do you really think news anchors are able to read scripts effectively because they’re news anchors? Or course not. They’re news anchors because they’re able to read scripts effectively. How did they learn to do that? The same as anyone else would … through instruction and practice.
In 1995, Hillary Clinton was unpolished when she read her speech at the U.N. 4th World Conference on Women. She would have made a great example of why you shouldn’t read a speech. Listen to her read a speech now and you’ll see there’s a marked difference.
Did it take time? Yes. It will also take time to improve as a presenter.
Having said all that, I’m not suggesting you read every one of your speeches. I’m not even suggesting you read any of your speeches. What am I suggesting?
If everything you say can and will be held against you, read your speech.
If it’s crucial that your message is delivered exactly as it is written, read your speech.
If you have a long speech to deliver and no hope of remembering it without a script, read your speech.
Politicians, government officials, executives and activists are more likely to face the circumstances I’ve mentioned above. But if you don’t fall into the groups I’ve just mentioned and still have the same circumstances … go ahead … read your speech.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
John,
You make a great point – some speeches need to be read. This is yet another tool in the bag of any presenter. Taking the time to connect with your audience while you read the speech is the key to delivering a powerful speech that makes an impact.
Use the opportunity to get your words just right – this is a speech where you can really polish HOW you say what you are going to say…
- Dr. Jim Anderson
The Accidental Communicator Blog
“Learn How To intimately connect with your audience in order to make an lasting impact in their lives.”
Hi John,
Great post. It was interesting learning about the MLK speech.
Thought you might be interested about this post, about how the speakers emotional brain state affects their speaking performance.
http://ebtnews.blogspot.com/2009/09/knowing-your-number-president-obama.html
Thanks for the great post!
Thanks for the link, Joe. The link was certainly worth reading!
Thanks for commenting, Jim. You’re right … reading speeches is just another tool. There are many ways to get the job done, but each one may require a different tool.
I read Malcolm Gladwell’s latest book “Outliers” over the summer. It give story after story showing that after a certain number of hours of practice, initial talent is irrelevant. His number was 10,000 hours of practice to become world class. I have been teaching in MBA school and volunteering for any public speaking opportunity that has a motivated audience for 7 years – and by my calculation have only accrued 1,000 hours of actual speaking practice.
Reading a speech is another skill – it is a real challenge to build an emotional connection to the audience when you keep looking away to your notes. Credibility can also suffer, unless the audience understand that there is a reason that you are reading you speech. However, it is a skill that all senior leaders and most politicians have to get good at in order to survive the heavy load of meetings and speeches that are their lives. So – as you well say – get practicing now.
Hi John
What a surprise to read…
“You also have the option of doing what Martin Luther King Jr. did while delivering the “I have a dream” speech (yes, he read it).”
Never knew that.
Trouble is delivering a speech without notes has become a sort of party trick. It may be impressive but it leads to a very anecdotal form of speech. If you have put together some great word pictures, you need to write them down and get used to saying them.
Half read / half remembered so that you can still make eye contact with the audience.
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