If you haven’t seen the film, The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, and nominated today for a whopping 12 Academy Awards, run, don’t walk to your nearest movie theatre and buy a ticket!
Let me say, right off the bat, that I’m not trying to write a movie review here, though the King’s Speech is worthy of the most superlative reviews on every level—acting, writing, directing, cinematography, you name it. I’m writing this because the movie, and the premise behind the movie, moved me to the core, not a little bit because it is so richly affirming of the work I am privileged to do as a presentation skills coach and trainer.
In case you don’t know what the movie is about, here it is in a nutshell: On the brink of World War II, The future King George XVI of England (played by Mr. Firth) establishes a professional relationship with a speech coach (Mr. Rush), not formally trained as a therapist, but expertly trained as an actor, to help reduce the terrible anxiety and ensuing stammer that occur when he has to give an important public speech.
I spent most of the movie elbowing my husband, Jim, and muttering “that’s what I tell my clients!” I probably gave poor Jim bruises when Mr. Rush, as the coach, said something along the lines of “I help people own their voice by giving someone to listen to them.” Yes! That’s one of the essential elements of coaching!
Mr. Rush’s character used tried-and-true acting techniques to help the King of England rise above his fear so he could motivate and inspire his kingdom during a dark and troubling time. At the risk of giving away some of the high points of the film, here are five tools that Mr. Rush as coach and he and I both employ with our clients:
1. Breathing and Relaxation Techniques: In the movie, Mr. Rush’s character had The King of England rolling around on the carpet, scrunching up his face into the shape of a prune, and doing tongue-twisters to relax his jaw and his tongue. He knew, as I do, that I tense body constricts breathing, and if you’re not breathing, you’re not thinking. And if you’re not thinking, you can’t possibly communicate with ease, clarity and confidence. Learning and adopting consistent methods of relaxing your physical body as well as practices that help you stay in control of your breathing, are essential.
2. Speak Directly to One Person: In the crucial last scene, the King had to, at last, deliver his crucial speech to the populace of England via a live radio broadcast. His coach had the foresight to join him in the recording booth, where he encouraged the King to look him directly in the eye while he delivered his speech. The more the King was willing to earnestly connect and communicate his message to his coach, the more he was able to release his fear and communicate effectively. In a public speaking situation, choosing to really connect with your eyes and your heart to one person, and then another, and so on and so on, can keep you grounded and feeling supported and connected to your fellow human beings, thwarting the fear that can numb and isolate you.
3. Feel Your Fear: The King’s Speech was all about the art of stepping fully into your fear, feeling it, examining it for what it is, and then stepping through it. As I tell my clients over and over again, it’s not about avoiding fear, it’s about feeling and embracing fear, which serves to minimize it.
4. Practice Well and Know Your Speech Cold: The more King George prepared for his speeches, the more confident he felt. The more confident he felt, the more he could focus on what he was there to do, rather than on his feelings of fear. Knowing your script like the back of your hand creates what I like to call a second skeleton that you can rely on to support you when things go to hell in a hand-basket.
5. Deal with What’s in Your Head: What really transformed King George was his coach’s insistence that he come to terms with the underlying reasons for his speech “impediment:” A lack of self-worth, brought about by a harsh and exacting father. Nine and a half times out of ten, the issues my clients face, with regard to presentation anxiety, have deeper roots than they realize. With this in mind, take the time the time to analyze what your little gremlins, or self-judgers (I call them “Moe and Shmoe”) say to you ( i.e. “Everyone is laughing at you!” or You’re going to be found out for the Fraud that you are!”), and replaced these hurtful thoughts with fresh, new positive ones—you’ll radically alter your presentation experience for the better.
One last point: King George could not have improved his ability to speak in public without the expert help of his coach. If a proud King can ask for help, so can you. With presentation skills coaches like me around to support you, you don’t have to go it alone.