194 CHAPTER 14^ Delivering Your Speech
• Use pauses as punctuation marks. For example, at the end of the body of the speech,
try pausing, moving one step backward, and then saying, “In conclusion... ” Your
pause functions as a period that signals a separation in your thoughts.
A number of movies listed on your online resources under “Movie Speeches”
provide excellent models of good speakers who aren’t afraid of pauses. Queen Gorgo’s
speech to the Spartan Council in the movie 300 and Coach Gary Gaines’s speech on
“Being Perfect” in the movie Friday Night Lights are just two examples.Put It All Together
Communicative competence is defined as the ability to communicate in a personally
effective and socially appropriate manner.^43 The key to a competent performance is to
find the delivery that works best in a given situation. A confident style incorporates
vocal variety, fluency, good use of gestures, and eye contact to create an impression of
dynamism as well as credibility. If you’re naturally outgoing, this style may best fit your
personality. However, in some situations—somber occasions, for example—you should
choose a more conversational style that’s calmer, slower, softer, and less intense, but
still maintains good eye contact and gestures.^44 Listeners associate this style with trust-
worthiness, honesty, sociability, likableness, and professionalism, and it may actually fit
you better if your personality is more laid back. But more conversational speakers can
adapt for an occasion, such as a rally, where excitement runs high and people expect a
more enthusiastic delivery. Both styles are persuasive.
Don’t worry if you are not yet dynamic or confident. Instead, begin to develop your
personal delivery style, using your appearance, mannerisms, and vocal variations to your
advantage.Think Critically about Delivery
Political candidates often illustrate the link between delivery and effectiveness. For
example, President Reagan was called the “Great Communicator,” and Barack Obama’s
speaking skills are praised globally. In contrast, many politicians fail the “charismatic
challenge.” One presidential candidate’s voice was described as “somewhere between
that of a dentist’s drill and the hum of a refrigerator.”^45 Another’s delivery was wooden,
earnest, solemn, uptight, and focused more on content than on delivery. Enter the con-
sultants. Some handlers spun their bland candidate as “authentic.” Others sat beside their
candidates, watching and rewatching videos of speeches, analyzing volume, rate, ges-
tures, and facial expressions. Their overall advice was to loosen up—leave the podium,
gesture widely, smile. Politicians know that no matter how wonderful their ideas, their
message will be lost if their delivery annoys the audience or puts them to sleep.
In small groups, discuss the following questions:- What qualities are important in a president? How does presidential image mat-
ter? What do you think of the handlers’ decision to spin unremarkable delivery as
“authentic”? - Should a candidate undergo a makeover or “be herself,” regardless?
- President William Taft (1909–1914) weighed around 300 pounds. Could he be
elected president today? Why or why not? Is this good or bad? - Women candidates often claim that media coverage is sexist. Words like shrill,
strident, and giggle appeared in stories about them, but not about their male
communicative competence
the ability to communicate
in a personally effective and
socially appropriate manner
confident style a way of
speaking characterized by
effective vocal variety, flu-
ency, gestures, and eye
contact
conversational style speak-
ing that’s comparatively
calmer, slower, and less
intense, but maintains good
eye contact and gestures
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