POLITICAL SPEAKING TIPS - D. A. Sharpe

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Political speaking tips, by D. A. <strong>Sharpe</strong> 11. Practice good grammar. For example: use personal pronouns correctly, avoid splitting infinitives and watch how you use prepositions. Keep in mind being well-prepared by planning your words ahead of time helps cement correct grammar. Asking someone to critique your presentation ahead of time can be helpful. Personal pronouns need to be used correctly: “The meeting was planned by Sally and me.” is correct. It is not correct to say “The meeting was planned by Sally and I.” It would be correct to say, “Sally and I planned the meeting.” Avoid splitting infinitives. Say, “My plan is not to allow contracts without open bidding.” Do not say, “My plan is to not allow contracts without open bidding.” A speaker should try to use "we" and "our" instead of "I" and "my" whenever possible. Never use a preposition to end a sentence with! As you can see, this is a humorous way to saying the rule, while demonstrating how not to say it. Watch how you use the word, “at.” Say, “I am presently at the campaign headquarters...” Don’t say, “I’ll be you don’t know where I’m at.” i.e. You could say, “I’ll bet you don’t know where I am.” Avoid the habit of "Ums”, “er” and buzz phrases like "don't ya know," "You know what I'm sayin" and "OK." 9. A very important candidate’s statement which is controversial should first be written carefully, so that wording can be chosen wisely. Practice articulating that statement so that you will not be distracted. Keep in mind that it is good to cultivate the art of looking directly at individuals when possible. It is sometimes good to move around a little, to lean into the audience to focus on a particular person. Spread your focus to different individuals to be more inclusive. Good eye contact is one of the most valuable assets you can maintain. 10. If you are provided a microphone, keep it close to your mouth. If it is stationary, you are limited in your effective movements. Try to see if they will allow you something that gives you move ability. 11. Vary your pitch (highness and lowness of voice), pace (speak slower sometimes, and then a bit more quickly on "common phrases"), loudness (increasing volume is sometimes less effective than decreasing it: to say a word softly and suddenly will usually cause everyone to notice), body - stance, gesturing, facial direction (if you've been very still, move; if you've been moving, pause quietly in a posture; if you've been maintaining a nice, Page 2 of 5
Political speaking tips, by D. A. <strong>Sharpe</strong> sweeping eye contact look up or to the side - as if in introspection, for an arresting affect on audience) 12. Dress appropriately for the occasion, asking the event planners or another speaker ahead of time, what is considered appropriate. Most of the time for casual settings, men may wear an understated sport shirt with slacks and sometimes a sport coat. If there is someone in the audience who will be wearing a suit and tie you might choose the same, which will be appropriate. Women may wear a tailored dress or basic suit or pant suit to most occasions avoiding the pant and tee shirt-look. Keep in mind that good grooming requires polished and well maintained shoes, clean, well cut and combed hair and that facial hair for men should be trimmed well. Freely growing beards might connote the idea of freely flowing disorganized habits. If you are a little broader than you might like to be, have someone coach you on clothing that does not accentuate your broadness. 13. Visualize yourself with a natural smile, a straight back, head held high and a stomach pulled in walking to the platform, speaking and leaving the platform. The first thing that anyone will notice is the confidence in the way you present yourself. Practicing your speech before a mirror will help you decide how to use your hands and arms to complement what you are saying. The audience will be more relaxed and enjoy the event more if you, the speaker, gives a relaxed and happy appearance. 14. In most cases, avoid having a stern appearance on the countenance of your face. Practice having a natural smile in response to all that is around you. Look like you are having fun and that you are glad to be able to be a candidate. Don’t make it look like a pain to do. 15. Be prepared to follow up important matters. Commit to the audience that you will follow up or check into something that has been raised that you could not answer there on the spot. To do that more effectively, arrange to have a trusted associate or campaign worker sitting nearby to whom you can refer the instruction about what to do. The audience can see that a note is being made by someone on your team and their confidence that you will follow through is strengthened. 16. Remember what your mother probably said, “If you can’t say anything good about a person, don’t say anything at all.” That is excellent advice. Also, a closed mouth catches few flies. If someone in the audience raises a negative element about your competing candidate, avoid jumping on the band wagon. There is a lot of truth in the old saying, “You don’t raise yourself by lowering someone else.” 17. Audience engagement is often helpful. Consider involving someone by asking a pertinent question, “What do you think about the benefits of the tax Page 3 of 5
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