Home>Peeling back the layers: The King’s Speech, one reluctant speaker’s journey to claim his destiny
26.02.2024
Peeling back the layers: The King’s Speech, one reluctant speaker’s journey to claim his destiny
If rhetoric is powered by both theory and structure, eloquence, on the other hand, unveils the speaker’s inner essence. This complex balancing act was thrust upon a stammering, introverted duke on the path to becoming the King of England. The King’s Speech is the tale of two colliding worlds: a royal summoned to his fate by the guiding hand of History, and one man’s quest to shape his own destiny.
Do the rules that apply to a stage-shy king go for any leader confronted by high stakes?
Is public-speaking a non-negotiable? And can it be taught? École Normale Supérieure graduate, Sciences Po Executive Education associate professor and philosopher Stephen Bensimon discusses what it all means for directors and managers.
Getting the lay of the land
A prince, naval officer and the Duke of York, George V’s second son grew up in the shadow of his older brother, until the latter’s abdication ushered him into the spotlight as the new king. Despite his timid nature, he would be forced into giving an historic speech in a legendary call to arms that would rally his country around at the dawning of World War II, just as populist orator Adolf Hitler was busy whipping up a frenzy.
With stakes as high as this, George V seemed to lose his nerve – understandable when we consider that “all public-speaking involves a sense of responsibility, an awareness of risk, and a live element that allows no time to think,” according to Stephen Bensimon.
The film confirms the theory: in private, the king-to-be had no trouble getting the words out, and in doing so demonstrated that his struggle to speak wasn’t rooted in any technical or physical block. As Stephen Bensimon explains, “verbal expression is where the self and the other meet: mental hesitation triggers uncertainty in speech”. Just like the freshly crowned King of England, while every speaker may have faith in the actual content of their speech, doubt regarding their selves, their authority and their legitimacy can creep in.
Making room for the power of the message
The secret to acing a “big speech” is always the same, irrespective of what might be at stake. Whether you’re a royal or a student, the key lies in putting the right amount of distance between yourself and the room, staying one step removed from yourself, and above all else, reflecting on just how interested your audience really is in what you have to say. A speech’s impact, confides Stephen Bensimon, is rooted in our ability to forget our sense of self and home in on the power of our words, ensuring that “what drives you is bigger than yourself, tapping into resources you weren’t aware you had, drawing on underused skills to get your ideas across and focus on audience approval”.
This paves the way for speaker and audience to come together around a cause, a vision or a shared goal, irrespective of your own past, role or background. Anybody can master a speech – provided they feel buoyed by responsibility and empowered by a message they are compelled to share. “These points are vital to getting an audience behind your speech,” notes Stephen. “If you feel neither inspired nor responsible, the emotion won’t shine through.” If, on the other hand, your speech is overly embroidered and theatrical, if the speaker doesn’t evaporate to make room for the core message or their company name, then that special cocktail of persuasion and support will never come about.
Convincing vs. persuading
A speech isn’t a one-way street: it’s a conversation, an invisible bridge, a hand you stretch out to your audience. So how do you get that audience behind you? Should you aim to convince, or to persuade?
“To convince is to vanquish, to take up a position of dominance. To persuade, meanwhile, is to put the other and their concerns first: to speak their language.” According to 19th-century essayist Joseph Joubert, “one may convince others by way of one’s own reason, but may only persuade them by way of their own”.
One thing’s for sure: speakers need to be able to gain their audience’s confidence and become a trusted source. “The act of convincing is ad hoc, but persuasion is a long-term process, as you interact with people in your company or organisation on a regular basis,” explains Stephen.
Speakers have a duty to demonstrate exemplary behaviour, “because once somebody lies to you, you never trust them again”.
Shaping awareness, leading with tact and kindness and focusing on what others think are all key goals that speakers set out to achieve, weaving speeches that act like communions with their audiences rather than battles to be won whatever the cost.
As King George V would tell you, the only battle here pits you against the prison of your mind.
Photo credit: The King’s Speech © Wild Bunch
