Short speeches can also be more memorable, especially if (as we say above) you start with story.įinally, no matter what you’re talking about, make sure your message is positive and future-focused. Winfrey spoke for just over three minutes – longer than the Gettysburg Address, but shorter (I’ll wager) than the last homily at your church or the last TED Talk you heard.įinding the key message is often easier in a short speech. Don’t ask people to listen unless you have something of value to say. As a business leader, when you speak, make sure you speak about important topics. The team members in your organization are busy people. We live in an age of information overload. She spoke from a historical perspective grounded in harsh reality, but also spoke hopefully about the future. Winfrey’s speech celebrated women and people of color who have dared to speak truth to power. Acknowledge those whose hard work made the company’s progress possible, and be especially attentive to those who may never get to stand on the stage themselves. Leaders can win followers by giving credit where credit is due.
Sharing appreciation is not just a nice component of your speech, it is table stakes for taking the stage. Quincy Jones, Steven Spielberg, Stedman (Winfrey’s longtime partner), and Gayle (Winfrey’s best friend) were just a few of the individuals Winfrey name-checked in her speech last night, saying they were among the many who had sustained her and made her journey possible. The podium shouldn’t be anyone’s confessional, but it should be a place of authenticity. When that’s not true, team members can see right through it. Leaders often try to convey a sense of unshakable confidence and invulnerability. She spoke of the commonality of experiencing shame, love, rage, and failure, saying these are part of perseverance and “how we overcome.” Winfrey’s story was personal, and her tone was vulnerable. ( Here’s a tool to get you started telling stories.) Tell people the story of a team member who used a $150 garage door opener to solve a multi-thousand dollar problem and you’ll inspire people to think differently about their own approach to innovation and problem solving.ĭo you want your team to remember something important? Start with a story. Tell people to “innovate constantly,” and they’ll nod their head and go back to work. In coaching executives who want to build strong, values-driven organizations, we always encourage them to make a list of the stories that illustrate the values they hold.
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