13 Delivering Presentations

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Before the film The King’s Speech won the best picture Oscar in 2011, few Americans knew the story of Britain’s King George VI. Born into royalty but never intended for the throne, King George—known as Albert or “Bertie”—lived much of his life in the shadow of his older brother, the dashing Edward. And that was fine with Albert, who suffered from a devastating stutter and tended to shy away from public speaking. But when Edward famously abdicated the British throne, Albert was thrust into a position of leadership that he didn’t want but that he was bound by duty and honor to fulfill.

With his country on the brink of World War II, Albert was naturally expected to make a radio address. His speech was not perfect, but he managed to get through it and deliver his message to a frightened public. Colin Firth, who won an Oscar for playing Albert, reviewed audio and video footage of the king delivering his speeches in order to prepare for the role. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” said Firth. “It’s very moving because it’s not just the struggle. It’s the courage with which he deals with the struggle” (as cited in CBS News, 2010).

Albert’s story was an inspiration to David Seidler, who had left Britain during the war and who also suffered from what he described as a “profound” stutter. Seidler overcame his stutter as a teenager and went on to become a Hollywood screenwriter. Upon winning the Oscar for The King’s Speech, Seidler himself gave a moving speech, accepting the award “on behalf of all the stutterers in the world. We have a voice. We have been heard” (Seidler, 2011).

Many people feel anxious about delivering speeches—and some manage to avoid it. But consider the nervousness and challenges that King George and David Seidler managed to overcome in the process of finding their voices. As their stories illustrate, with the right tools and plenty of practice, even the most nervous or challenged individuals can become accomplished and engaging speakers. In this chapter, you’ll learn the basics of competent speech delivery that will help you connect with your audience and deliver an effective presentation. We begin by acknowledging the nervousness you may naturally experience before moving on to key methods of delivery, guidelines for effective delivery and presentation aids, and tips for practicing your speech.