Passionate Speech Reveals An Inconvenient Truth

Is there ever a danger that your passion for your subject is over-done? That your obvious commitment could appear, well, just a bit unhinged? Certainly, on first consideration, probably not. After all, we advise our students to be passionate and full of belief in their subject. It's point 7 in our list of a presenter's top ten secrets. Because a passionate speech really helps to energise your audience.

However, there's always room for second thoughts. and that's particularly apt when we saw Al Gore in action on a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum conference in Davos, Switzerland. Now it's more than fair to say that Al Gore, the former Vice-President of the USA and creator of the film, An Inconvenient Truth in 2006 has some skin in the climate change business. And that's not even with his climate change investment business that he founded nearly 20 years ago.

Let's Get Passionate

So his passionate performance at the 23rd WEF conference might be the product of his full involvement in the climate change business. But it's also possible that his outburst betrays an inner insecurity. Is he worried that his prior narrative is crumbling? And that's always a possibility with a pure narrative speech. Or, perhaps he's concerned that so many facts simply don't add up any longer? Maybe.

Because when you appear to berate your audience you stand to lose. It's not a good look. And when you encourage your audience to berate everyone else in the world, then you also lose. Since nobody listens to the weird 'shouty' guy. Even if he was once the Vice-President.

Beyond our series of top tips for speakers, you can discover everything you will need for your next passionate speech with a public speaking course, one to one coaching, or an online course from Time to Market. Why not give us a call when you are ready to find out more.