Leadership communications with Rob Cottingham

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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