“Only when our clever brain and our human heart work together in harmony This was one of the first one pagers I ever did. I was ill for a couple of days Masterclass.com is still my favourite learning resource. I still do one new For this one pager I analysed Mother Teresa’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech can we achieve our true potential.” and took some time to review a few of my favourite leaders to see what I lesson (or revisit an old one) everyday - and have done ever since the day the for some writing I was doing around the United Nation’s sustainable could steal from them to help me at work. At the time it seemed a little th 2015. platform launched with Kevin’s Spacey’s acting Masterclass on May 12 development goals. I was focusing on SDG #1 “No Poverty” and wanted to I was studying Aristotle's 'appeals’ for this one pager and trying to excessive but I discovered that there was something special about taking understand what made Mother Teresa such a compelling and compassionate understand why activists and evangelists like Jane Goodall are such notes on an A2 pad (59cm x 42cm) that gave my thoughts and ideas space MyTop10Masterclasses: speaker. It’s easy to be inspired by her grace and and positive energy, but compelling speakers. I discovered (in the small pie charts) that she uses six to breathe! I wanted to look at great communicators to become a better after some deep-dives into her talks and evangelism, I was mostly inspired by specific narratives, each one tailored for a different audience. If she wants to communicator myself, so I gave myself 9 inspirational business people to her powerful but accessible perspective. ‘foster collaboration’ for example, she delivers a more emotionally charged focus on. After a long debate with myself I narrowed my list down to Simon 1. Neil deGrasse Tyson (Science Communication) pathos). ‘Sharing knowledge’ for a schools talk in Tanzania requires 2. AaronSorkin (West Wing is my all-time favourite TV show.) speech ( Sinek, Nancy Duarte, Carmine Gallo, Seth Godin, Tony Robbins, Tom Peters, I often suggest to business leaders that their main objectives should be to more logic ( logos). When she is demonstrating ‘leadership’ she shares more 3. Neil Gaiman (Creative Writing) not necessarily in that Dale Carnegie, John C. Maxwell and Zig Ziglar. build a business, change the world and have fun but “ ethos) and if she wants to ‘spark action’ and get How easy for me to say that though, when I’m spending time with of her personal credibility ( 4. Malcolm Gladwell (Non-Fiction Writing) order!” kairos). my thinking was people to DO things, then the talk is focused more around action ( One curious outcome was that I soon realised how much of 5. JaneGoodall (Conservation) large enterprises and executives who are responsible for thousands of people influenced by middle class white guys, so I made it my mission to study all 6. David Axelrod (Obama’s Chief Political Strategist) and billions of pounds. Of course they could change the world. If they wanted By changing the levels of ‘Ethos' (credibility & authority), ‘Logos' (reason & the amazing women who must have some how passed me by. If you’ve ever 7. Chris Hadfield (Space Exploration) to. I have an interesting view of the world but it’s a perspective not shared by proof), ‘Pathos' (values & emotion) and ‘Kairos’ (urgent action) she is able to seen me on a Webex or zoom call with my hero-wall of pictures behind me, 8. David Mamet (Dramatic Writing) many. That’s why I love Mother Teresa’s world view which doesn’t rely on makesurethateverymessage resonates with each audience. you will notice that I am usually now ONLY surrounded by badass world- 9. RuPaul (Self-Expression) having a big influence, a lot of money, a high-ranking corporate job or a changing women. That’s not to be politically correct. That’s because I’ve since 10. Robin Arzón (Mental Strength) media profile before you can make a real difference... Jane is one of my favourite people who sees her career as a "calling”. I have beeninspired by SO many women, in many ways I didn’t expect, as a result of her picture in my office because she’s still doing what she loves and going creating this one pager. If you can find the time I highly recommend doing No. According to Mother Teresa, anybody can change the world. It just strong at 86! She inspires me to make a difference, and to make sure that I this for yourself. The world moves so fast we don't often give ourselves dependsonhowyoudefine“theworld” will always have a job where work doesn't always feel like "work"... enoughtimetobeinspired. “ If you really want to change the world, go home and love your family”. Great advice. I’m not arguing with a saint. I wonder if we spent more time celebrating all the good things we’ve done, JFK's speechwriter Ted Sorensen said that the best speeches come down to WhenJoeBiden's speech writer Vinay Reddy sat down to write Biden’s 2021 Vice president elect Kamala Harris knows how to present her CV without rather than constantly focusing on all the bad things that are wrong with the 4 words (levity, brevity, charity, clarity) and 5 lines (an outline, headline, inaugural address, he knew a different kind of speech was required. Driven by appearing too arrogant or self-promotional. It's a tough skill that we all need world, would we actually get more done? Would a more positive state of frontline, side line and bottom line). the idea of using "rhetoric for good" he studied a wide range of powerful to learn for those times when we need to talk about ourself. mind accelerate PROGRESS - for the planet and for each other? Yes, there is speeches (including most of what Winston Churchill delivered publicly), much to do. The UN sustainable development goals are pitifully far behind As President-elect Biden prepared to make his inaugural address on the 60th where words had been used in a positive content to unite people. You need to build credibility and trust, but not over-sell. Don’t try to hard. where they should be. But humans have also achieved some pretty amazing anniversary of JFK's "Ask not" speech, I created this one pager as I studied Don’t be too cliché. Don’t preach. Paint a vision, but don't make it feel out of things over the last few decades. whatmadeJFK’sspeechsogreat. The speech that President Biden delivered exceeded expectations, and when reach. Show leadership, but come across like you’re one of us. It's a tough you analyse it closely as I did in this one pager, it's not hard to see why it balancing act. For Kamal’s vice-presidential acceptance speech in August • World hunger has dropped by half in the majority of the world since 2000. JFK asked Sorensen for brevity, asking him to use short clauses and short worked. 2020, despite the majority of her 18 minute talk being about herself, she I don't want people to think • Just 28 years ago the majority of the world lived in autocratic states words wherever possible, telling Ted Sorensen “ spoke with empathy, elegance and humility. • Today 49.3% enjoy some form of democracy. I'm a wind-bag.” Instead of just using clever rhetorical devices and the kind of 'conflict' you • Renewable energy is now the cheapest form of energy. usually expect to find in political speeches ("great speech but I can't "You can change the world just by sharing your story". Winning the popular vote by one of the smallest ever margins (0.17%), his remember what he said"), Vinay used “but" 15 times to create subtle And have you ever wondered how progress happens? How systemic change approval rating soared to 78% after he delivered this speech. It's arguably contrasts and then "we" 80 times to appeal to civic 'unity' (the theme of the Using many of the rhetorical devices that made Obama a great speaker, actually occurs? Scientists have a word for it. “SMUBA”. oneofthegreatest speeches ever given. speech). Kamala specifically chose words and phrases that carried weight and hidden meaning, in order to relate to different demographics within her TV audience Seeing. Mapping. Understanding. Believing. Acting. (All systemic change goes When Sorensen was later asked by students for advice on giving a great It's still fair to say that on the day, 22-year old poet laureate Amanda Gorman of 22.8M. through these 5 stages). speech, he simply replied "If you don't have mighty thoughts, you won't stole the show with her 'The Hill We Climb’, poem but nevertheless, that cold makemightyspeeches". Wednesday in Washington DC was a shining example of how words and Wemaynotberunning for high office, but we can learn a lot from her about So the next time you find yourself on a mission to make the world work ideas really can change a nation. howtopromoteourselveswithstrengthandquietconfidence. better: Think positively. Use ‘SMUBA’. And remember the words of the great economist Rudi Dornbusch who said, “Things usually take longer to happen than you think they will, but then they happen faster than you ever thought they could”.