The graduates of New York City’s Barnard College were in for a real treat last Monday with President Obama as their commencement speaker. If you really must graduate college and enter the real world, having Obama send you off into that scary and cruel realm seems like a good way to go. Regardless of your political leanings, it’s undeniable that the man is a brilliant speaker. In fact, if you’re looking for a few quick public speaking tips before a big presentation, watch some clips of Obama speaking. His speeches offer a model of how to effectively present in a compelling, memorable way.
Barnard is an all girls’ university, so Obama appropriately tailors his content to his female audience. He tells stories about women, gives lessons specific to women, and cites statistics about women, among other things. In short, he does an excellent job of speaking to his audience. He begins by speaking about his own two girls (“I think of Malia and Sasha graduating and I get all teary eyed…”) and he continues to reference his personal life throughout the speech, which is wonderfully effective in this case because extraordinary women surround him and they exemplify his main points. Obama also does a great job of nuancing his speech by citing secondary sources and telling stories. He uses lots of personal stories to explain and strengthen his points, and he also smartly includes statistics to prove his points.
He also compares his graduating class of 1983 to the current graduating class because of the similar uncertainties and unknowns they are facing. This comparison takes the edge off a bit; it reassures the graduating class that it was like this once and we all survived, so you will, too (though this could be debated from where they’re sitting…). Nevertheless, using comparison and tailoring your presentation’s content to your specific audience is a surefire way to connect with them and gain their trust.
Obama is a master at using repetition throughout his speeches. If you haven’t noticed it before, listen carefully during his next speech, and it will become obvious how often he employs the device. He uses repetition consistently to enforce his ideas and to maintain a compelling rhythm of speech. Often he’ll speak in threes, like the typical rule dictates, but he’ll also gain momentum in his speech by using repetition for a long list of things. For example, “that’s how we achieved… that’s how we achieved…” (four repetitions), and “it’s up to you… it’s up to you… [to write, to lobby, to organize, to vote, to be heard, etc.], and “looks like her… looks like her…”. There are countless other examples (seriously, you can fill up an entire page with examples). This continual use of repetition is intoxicating in speeches; it grabs the audience’s attention and doesn’t let go. It forces us to hang onto every word because we’re waiting for what’s going to finish that fragment. We’re waiting for what will close that ellipsis.
There’s also a sort of cadence in Obama’s speeches that is notable. The tone of his voice changes throughout the speech when appropriate, which is an aspect many presenters forget to consider. The tone of your voice reveals your passion and your enthusiasm. Toward the end of his address, Obama becomes more animated when he lists off what the graduates can do to further themselves and women in general (“it’s up to you…”). This kind of animation gets the audience excited; it brings another level of enthusiasm to the speech. He’s also masterful at pausing when appropriate, and emphasizing what’s important. While you practice a presentation, consider what connotations the sound of your voice reveals to the audience. Be careful to animate, emphasize and pause when appropriate.
Clocking in at around 30 minutes, Obama’s commencement address goes over the ideal time for a presentation (remember, the average person’s attention span is 18 minutes), but with content and delivery like this, we’re more than willing to spend the extra time. And when you’re up to your elbows in presentation material, feeling frustrated and tired, remember Obama’s apt words: “Persevere. Nothing worthwhile is easy.”
