What we’re thinking
Ed Miliband as King Lear
Ed Miliband, leader of the UK’s Labour Party, is being criticised this morning for missing out part of his speech to the Labour Conference yesterday. He favours talking without notes to help bring his own personality to the conversation he is seeking to spark. One commentator suggested on the BBC News last night that Miliband shouldn’t feel the need to learn all his lines. He’s not an actor. He’s not being Shakespeare’s King Lear. It’s a challenging conundrum for leaders – political or otherwise. We’re not actors. We shouldn’t need to learn lines. We’re trying to connect to our audience. However, we need to play to our strengths and start with the outcomes in mind – what do I want my audience to think, feel, do during and after this presentation? Some might prefer notes. Some might prefer slides. Some like to rehearse. Some prefer to ‘wing-it.’ I love watching the different styles on offer on Ted.com. The world’s greatest ‘thinkers and doers’ passionately making their pitch, seeking to engage others in their cause. Plenty of different styles on offer here. Plenty of ideas and lessons for what we might try. Or not try!
So, good for you Ed Miliband for trying to do something different than the usual scripted political speeches. You’re talking about change and you’re changing the way you talk about it. And…reflect on the feedback coming your way – positive and negative. Maybe notes aren’t always such a bad idea. Maybe using the big screen behind you to bring alive your key messages might help. Don’t be afraid to use notes or visuals if you wish. It’s not necessarily a sign of weakness – it can be a sign of wanting to say something that’s so important you want to get it right. And don’t be afraid to tear those notes up and ‘wing-it’ if that’s what the audience needs.
A good exam question: We want actors at the theatre, not leading our organisations, or our countries. Or do we? Discuss…!
Andrew Bidnell is a professional certified coach and an experienced consultant who founded InsideOut Consulting in 2006. The focus is on leadership and communication and, in particular, the challenge of engagement – of self and of others – to achieve maximum impact and fulfillment. He has worked internationally with 1,000+ leaders in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, always seeking to facilitate, challenge, support and unlock potential that lies inside an individual, a community, an organisation, and bring that strength, passion and knowledge out for maximum impact.