"Breaking the Silence: The Therapeutic Journey in The King's Speech"
Yasmine El Baz
Executives & Public Figures’ Speech Coach | Public Speaking Coach | Founder & CLO at School of Public Speaking | Psychologist | International MC & Keynote Speaker | Formal Speech & Spokespersons Consultant
Why "The King's Speech" is one of my favorite movies?
The King's Speech movie shares the story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.
The direct emotional message is that despite having challenges, you can overcome them by seeking help, being persistent, and surrounding yourself with a trustworthy, supportive circle.
But plenty of remarks are underneath all that; let me share two here.
The First Remark
The speech therapist used a common technique to test the physical vs. psychological challenges. He pushed the King to sing and even curse to test his capabilities. Even though that could sound nonsense to you, it makes much sense psychologically.
The king was not concerned about how he would sound when singing or cursing. It's like feeling, "I'm just venting my emotions," or "I'm having fun," which could help eliminate the fear of judgment. Using that technique proved to the King in the movie that his main barrier was his own thoughts and fear of judgment, which increased his stammer.
The second Remark concerns how the speeches were written to facilitate the smooth delivery of the words. I always encourage this crucial step.
In the radio broadcast scene, the speech script paper in front of the King included remarks about where he should pause or jump off difficult letters. This shows how scripts should be fully customized according to the speaker's character, articulation, and speaking style.?
Your words could be great on paper but feel like a heavy rock on your tongue. So don't just prepare content that looks good; it should also feel easy to you and sound harmonious.
One of the essential steps I always take with any spokesperson I work with is getting to know them deeply and listening to their previous speeches attentively to assess their style and what could sound natural to utilize or forced to avoid. Then, I work with them to customize the script accordingly while rehearsing it to facilitate the smooth delivery of each part.
One of my favorite lines in the movie is when the therapist teases the King multiple times, asking him why he deserves that throne, and the King yells, "Because I have a voice."?
Always remember that you have a voice. Whatever your challenge, understanding it better and getting to know the triggers that feed it instead of taming it will help you gain more control of those challenges and let your voice shine out of passion and undeniable confidence.