Speaking like Ardern
Jacinda Ardern was born in Hamilton next to Hobbiton. Growing up, she aspired to become a clown and even auditioned for the Lord of the Rings. She did not get cast but eventually became one of the youngest prime ministers and the world’s second greatest leader according to Forbes Magazine. How did she manage to put New Zealand on the map?
Substance
The Land of the Long White Cloud - as New Zealand is called in Maori - is almost as big as populous Japan but inhabits less than 5 million people. The World Economic Forum nevertheless invited Ardern to Davos where she discussed mental health issues with Prince William and leaders from international organisations. The reasons for granting this privilege were surging suicide rates in New Zealand and the fact that her government had made mental health a priority through a vast array of initiatives. Size does not always matter. Performance does.
A decade in politics teaches you a lot. Ardern does not shy away from inviting comedians over yet dodged a lot of questions in the interviews with US late-show host Stephen Colbert. In TV debates, the former member of a debating club rightly seeks confrontation and appears well-briefed by her team. Even if you are not surrounded by advisors, prepare 1-2 figures per topic to add credibility without confusing the audience.
Structure
Ardern not only varies between chronological and problem-solution structures. Her speech tempo matches the occasion. When she led Labour against the Conservative incumbent in the general election, she was feisty and spoke faster than after her victory. As Prime Minister, stateswomanship kicked in. You can easily follow her announcement speech because she pauses after 4-5 words and enunciates each syllable of key phrases. Calm and clear leaders inspire trust.
Style
What does Jacinda Ardern stand for? Her sign name is a gesture drawing a wide grin. Empathy, kindness and justice are all over her statements yet her maiden speech spells it out. Ardern presents numerous anecdotes from her past. None is randomly chosen. Each links to her party’s policies and builds on the above-mentioned values. Using personal examples with a consistent message creates a powerful image.
A tragedy challenged her beliefs. In March 2019, a gunman killed 51 and injured another 49 worshippers in two mosques in Christchurch. The shooting was an attempt to poleaxe the population and make mischief but the new Prime Minister foiled the terrorist’s plans to gain notoriety. She refused naming the perpetrator and instead delivered a speech about diversity, compassion and unity. Thanks to the swift, sensitive response, Ardern rose to international fame as a leader.
Five lessons for public speakers
Get more speaking opportunities by launching initiatives that address societal challenges.
Back up your main claims with salient statistics.
Adjust your speech tempo and rhythm to your strategy.
Convey your values with personal examples to demonstrate that you are a principled person.
Inspire like a leader with a vision and message of hope.
Learn the techniques. Boost your confidence. Make your point.
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