How to Give a Supreme Leader’s Speech

It's not often that Britain's BBC News dedicates a full 40 minutes of live airtime to a speech. Not even the late Queen could muster that degree of attention or sycophancy. Yet live TV coverage beamed from Iran showed us exactly how to give a Supreme Leader's speech as Ayatollah Khamenei spoke last week and received the full attention of the BBC.

Now clearly the events of the last year remain terribly seared on our minds. But an Ayatollah Khamenei speech wasn't what we were expecting on BBC News. For instance, we've no record of the previous Supreme Leader giving a speech on our blog, and this is the first instance we've discussed such a speech in the 35 years of Ayatollah Khamenei's leadership in Iran.

Yes, we reported on a Hassan Khomeini speech once, an Ali Larijani speech and also a President Ahmadinejad speech. But never an Ayatollah's speech.

No Rhetorical Flourish to This Supreme Leader's Speech

But how was the speech? Well, he's no accomplished orator. That's clear. But that's not an issue when you're the theocratic supreme leader. And he is, of course, an accomplished cleric.

The Ayatollah gave his speech to a clearly enthusiastic audience of tens of thousands of people outside the Mossala Mosque in Tehran. Often we might expect a serious public speaking backdrop for such a speech. But with this vista, that was not necessary.

Speaking with notes, and holding a rifle, he appeared entirely assured as he gave a measured speech that dripped vitriol for his enemies.

This malicious regime is rootless, fallacious, and unstable, and it has only managed to stand on its feet with difficulty with US support. And God willing, this too will not last for long.

The contrast between his speaking style and his audience's reaction was striking. Typically, we might expect a more vocally outrageous speaking style, But no, the supreme leader isn't in that mould as a public speaker. Since his delivery is practically monotone, perhaps not too much of a departure from the wooden scripted speech pattern of Keir Starmer.

As a speech, this isn't going to win friends and influence people. His followers are, of course, already fully committed to their revolutionary cause. And he knows his audience.

However, that's not stopped a public focus on the BBC for screening the speech live. And that focus is no bad thing.

When you need some tips, hints and suggestions for your next speech you'll find plenty of public speaking tips on the Time to Market site. And with more than 100 top tips for speakers, podcasts and videos, there's a tip for every occasion. And when you are ready to take your own public speaking skills that bit further, then you'll find an online public speaking skills course just the thing.