Whatever you think of Peter Mandelson, there is no denying both the role he has played in shaping the Labour Party and politics in the UK over the last 15 years and his effective speaking and public speaking abilities. Mandelson, no stranger to contoversy, has caused even more with the release of his new book – The Third Man.
His effective speaking abilities could be clearly seen when I went to an event in London organized by The Times and Foyles Bookshop. The evening took the form of an interview on stage by Times columnist James Harding and, putting aside the politics, and even the personal issues covered, it was a Master Class in both how to have an audience eating out of your hand and in effective speaking.
When we want to know how to do something we no longer need to reinvent the wheel. We can simply role model an expert and in this case the expert at effective speaking and public speaking is Mandelson. What can we all learn from him regards effective speaking.
There are certain key factors which lead to good speaking. Let us call them the paths to effective speaking. Path 1 is to be well organized and path 4 is the words and language that you use.
This is how Peter Mandelson performed in these two areas of effective speaking technique;
Path 1 – Clearly he knew his subject very well and was prepared for the event.
When questioned he took time to think what his answer would be rather than speaking straight away. The gap was approximately 2 to 4 seconds before he started speaking and this gave him plenty of time to think before replying.
The interviewer controlled the questioning from the audience and no speeches were allowed, only questions. An example of effective speaking from James Harding.
Path 4 - He cleverly chose his words regarding his subject matter to appeal to his audience. A must for effective speaking.
He is obviously a heavyweight intellectual and perhaps surprisingly Peter’s choice of language made him very easy to understand. His language was accessible rather than being lofty and difficult to follow.
Surprisingly he used self deprecating humour to good effect although he managed to make himself look good.
How someone can do this was one lesson that I took from seeing an effective speaking and public speaking expert operate.
So in conclusion what lessons can be learned? Pause before answering, stay calm, know your content, and use simple language peppered with humour, which appeals to your audience. If you do these things you will be proficient at effective speaking and public speaking.
Learn the Art of Effective Speaking - Secrets and Strategies of the Very Best Speakers in the World. Go to www.thespeakingwell.co.uk to find out more.