Robert Lehrman, communications professor at American University, former chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore and author of The Political Speechwriter’s Companion: A Guide for Writers and Speakers (CQ Press, 2009), offers some sage advice on how to get the most out of your executive speaking opportunities:
1. Start with a speechwriter: “In corporate settings you’ll see CEOs filtering their speech content through other executives for feedback and edits. A dedicated speechwriter, or someone in communications who has had some training, can get to the point right away, speeding up the process.
2. Have them tell stories: “It’s not enough to provide a bunch of statistics to prove that something is true. You need anecdotal material, stories, to make a point.”
3. Consider a coaching change: “Coaching is very useful for executives, but I suggest people go to an outside consultant for that, because it’s tough for lower-ranking staff to say ‘stop slouching’ or ‘that outfit makes you look fat.’”