Many folks have told me that they believe they could never make a speech in public. Some are completely gun shy with stage fright while others are convinced the sound of their voice or even slight speech irregularities makes them unsuitable candidates for the podium.
I recently was given the limited edition book 'speeches that changed the world'. It came complete with audio CD of the most significant speeches of the 20th century. It was inevitable that one of the modern day world's greatest leaders and impassioned orator, Winston Churchill was included. Featured were two of the most stirring of his speeches, 'This was their finest hour’ and 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'. Both were delivered in in World War 11 in 1940 and referenced the epic Battle of Britain, which was fought and won in the skies over England by the valiant RAF against the supposed might of the Luftwaffe.
Churchill's unique style of speech and his eloquent use of words was shaped by his need to avoid certain words and sounds. From the time he was a small child he suffered from from a slight lisp and stammer.
While the world regarded him as supremely confident and powerful in reality he suffered from a sense of low self-esteem. Born into aristocracy, he had an immensely privileged lifestyle but like many of the children of that Victorian era and social position, his childhood was made unhappy by the fact that his parents showed little interest in him and his care was provided by a nanny. He also believed he was intellectually inferior as he did not receive an University education. Throughout his life he suffered from bouts of depression that he called his 'black dog'.
Churchill spent weeks, drafting his speeches so that he could avoid words that would trigger his stammer or lisp. He used his vast vocabulary to the fullest to produce his inspirational speeches that have stood the passage of time and are lauded for their eloquence and power. Once the speech was finally complete, he would practice the words and gestures in front of a mirror for days on end until he was satisfied that he could deliver it with force and polish.
For Winston Churchill his 'finest hour' translated into his ability to overcome all obstacles and through his use of alliterations, vivid word pictures and metaphors he was able to be instrumental in inspiring nations to change the course of history.
If he can overcome all of his myriad of inadequacies to become one of the 20th Century's greatest speakers, then it seems to me that we all stand a chance of being able to make a fist of it on a public platform.
Mrs Mary Atkins, Speaker and Author.
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