3 tips to crafting better speeches

Speechwriters wield a unique power to inform and inspire. They consistently transform complex issues into concepts and stories that move hearts and minds.

Here are some insights from a veteran speechwriter to help you or your exec do the same—whether from the podium, a presidential suite or in a Zoom town hall:

1. Nail their voice—get tight with your exec. “Spend as much time with your principal as possible,” says David Levey, who was a speechwriter at the Drug Enforcement Administration for 13 years. “That will help build a strong, trusting relationship with them and capture their ‘voice.’”

YouTube videos and recordings help, but Levey believes the most valuable time you can spend is with your exec in person. One pro tip: Ask to get in the car with them on their way to or from a speaking engagement.

“They often just won’t have time for you otherwise,” he says. “You’ll get to see firsthand how they prepare and talk, what phraseology and even metaphors they prefer—and you get to do it without someone pushing them out of the room to another meeting.”

That kind of access usually requires you to also get close to your exec’s gatekeepers.