6 Things We Learned About Public Speaking from Watching the 2023 State of the Union

We asked public speaking pro Matt Kinsey to evaluate the president's speech and offer his best tips.

Whether it's hyping up a team of Little League players or encouraging your friends to support a cause near to your heart, public speaking touches your life in ways you may not even realize.

Few of us will speak before millions like President Biden did in his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday night, but we can still learn from the president—his delivery, his tone and how he connected with his audience.

We asked Matt Kinsey, Toastmasters' 2022-23 International President, to weigh in on the president's speech—what he did well and where he could improve. Read on for tips you (and the president) can use to improve your public speaking—and maybe even convince your boss to give you a much-deserved raise!

Public Speaking Tips from President Biden's State of the Union

Reduce Distractions

One thing I would like to see President Biden do is to reduce his distractions. At times tonight, I was distracted by repetitions that did not reinforce the message. These were often due to a missed word or a stumble. In my experience, it is best to continue. When speakers correct themselves, they draw attention to the original misstep—which was most likely overlooked by many in the audience.

Know your audience

President Biden clearly knew his audience. He knew which messages would resonate with the entire audience, and which would only be supported by some of his audience. He also recognized that most of his audience was not in the room. He emphasized by looking directly into the television cameras when his message was directed primarily to the audience at home.

Use the full range of your voice for emphasis

President Biden used the full range of his voice expertly. He varied his speed and pitch for emphasis. When he wanted to be inspirational, his voice lowered, the volume dropped, and the pace slowed down. When he wanted to be motivational, his voice raised, the volume increased, and the pace sped up.

Be conversational

President Biden’s tone was conversational, humanizing him and providing a tangible character to which the audience could relate. It often felt like a one-on-one conversation, instead of an oration, using phrases and terminology that are familiar to the audience.

Related: 100 Good Persuasive Speech Topics

Share personal stories and anecdotes

President Biden shared personal anecdotes and stories, especially about his father. When speakers share personal anecdotes and stories, it creates an emotional connection with the audience because it touches the human heart. It demonstrates to the audience that the speaker has a personal investment in what they are saying.

Harness the power of repetition

Perhaps President Biden’s greatest strength tonight was his use of repetition. Throughout the speech, he consistently repeated his key points such as “invented in America” and “800,000 manufacturing jobs.” It was most effective tonight with the use of two phrases “we’re just getting started” and “finish the job.” These two phrases created, built, and reinforced the central theme of President Biden’s speech—“We’re just getting started… and let’s finish the job.” This repetition drove home the message that is most likely to be remembered by the audience later.

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