What can famous speeches teach us about effective communication?

Some of the greatest, most memorable people on earth have been described as "when they speak, you listen". I think about that often in regard to communication. How great it is that words are so powerful that everyone stops for a moment to hear you; that you've connected to an audience so powerfully that they just want to hear what you have to say. Who do you think of that resonates with "when he/she speaks, you listen"?

We have lived through a time that we have been conditioned to "stay in the box", and most drastically a time when emotions have been warranted as "too much". In reality, the emotions enticed within communications are what makes the engagement memorable and thinking outside the box is what gets you noticed. We are now seeing emotions being used in communications as little as a "hello, how are you and your kids" to commencement speeches delivered to thousands. This shift has opened doors to grab onto people in ways it never could before thus allowing human connection to be a driving force in every area of our lives.

Winston Churchill's "We Shall Fight on the Beaches," speech evoked emotions to connect with the audience. His speech rallied British morale during WWII, using emotive language to instill courage and determination.

Just as a basketball game has its rhythm, so too does a speech. Malcolm X’s delivery was a masterclass in pacing—deliberate, dynamic, and always engaging. Effective communication requires us to master this rhythm, knowing when to press forward with urgency and when to allow moments of reflection. Pacing is the heartbeat of a speech; it keeps the audience engaged and allows the message to sink in. It is through careful practice that we learn to control this tempo, ensuring that our words hit with the intended impact, neither rushing past nor dragging on. In every classroom, courtroom, and auditorium, mastering pacing is key to holding attention and delivering our message with precision. Pacing is music and music is a universal language.

From the moment Malcolm X opened his mouth, he commanded the room as a speaker or griot a term used from some African traditions. His openings were not just introductions but invocations, setting the tone and drawing his audience into his vision. A strong opening is the hook that captures attention, the spark that lights the fire. In public speaking, the first few moments are crucial—they set the stage for everything that follows. Whether you’re addressing a high school assembly or a group of community leaders, your opening must be compelling and clear, laying the groundwork for the journey ahead. This is where you grab hold of your audience and promise them that the destination will be worth the ride.

John F. Kennedy's opening line, "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country, " is till remembered today.

One of my favorite speakers, Malcolm X painted pictures with his words, crafting vivid images that lingered in the minds of his listeners. He understood the power of visual imagery to bring abstract concepts to life, making them tangible and relatable. Famous speeches teach us that effective communication often involves creating these mental snapshots. As a speaker, your task is to make your audience see what you see, to bring your ideas into sharp focus. Whether you’re discussing the intricacies of systemic inequality or the strategies for a championship game, visual imagery can make your message more memorable and impactful, engaging the senses and the intellect alike.

This is powerful tool when engaging with your audience. Attaching relatable content and taking your listeners to a place that they can picture in their minds to evoke an emotional attachment will always get a bigger return.

In calling on others to act, it is important to remember that people do things for their reasons, not ours. Many speakers deliver stirring messages with little to no active responses. That is because they did a good job of telling the audience their reasons to act, but did not discern the audience reasons to act. Knowing your audience as well as possible beforehand and viewing the subject from their basis helps to mold your speech into terms that resonate with their motives. It is more important to give a voice to what the audience is already thinking than to tell them how they ought to think.

Mahatma Gandi's "Quit India" speech inspired action and provided a clear course of action. Ghandi's speech motivated Indians to strive foe independence through non-violwnt resistance, offering a clear and compelling vision for the future.

Less can be more. Read the Gettysburg Address. Abraham Lincoln followed the headliner (no, Lincoln was not the featured speaker) who had spoken for nearly 2 hours. Lincoln’s remarks consisted of 10 sentences and took about 2 minutes to read. The quality of his words have echoed through the generations as one of the finest ever given. Quality can often prevail over quantity.