183: The Power of Rhetoric | Simon Lancaster

Jan 31, 2024

Simon Lancaster, a top speechwriter who crafted speeches for Tony Blair and major corporate leaders, shares his journey from musician to political powerhouse. He discusses the vital role of rhetoric in leadership, emphasizing storytelling and authenticity in speeches. Simon highlights how great speeches resonate with audiences by tapping into their emotions and personal experiences. His advice for aspiring leaders includes embracing one's individuality and the importance of rhetorical education for future generations.

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ANECDOTE

From Train Notes To Gripping Speeches

Simon Lancaster tells how Alan Johnson transformed a bland train-read speech into a gripping, story‑led address that commanded the room.
Lancaster learned that great speaking comes from personal stories and authentic voice, not pompous phrasing.

INSIGHT

Find The Speaker's Soul

A good speechwriter must find what is inside a speaker's soul and translate it, not puppeteer words onto them.
Audience resonance matters more than listing achievements or policy details.

ADVICE

Frame Corporate Messages Last

Frame company details briefly at the end of a speech rather than lead with them.
Make most of the talk about the world, why you care, and stories that connect emotionally to the audience.

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Simon Lancaster is one of the world's top speechwriters. He first became a speechwriter in the late 1990s working for Tony Blair’s Cabinet. He has since written speeches for the CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the world including Unilever, HSBC and InterContinental Hotels Group.

A leader's ability to communicate is critical to success and first impressions last!
Simon's journey started as a musician with a dream of becoming a songwriter yet by the age of 24 he became a Minister's Private Secretary. Not bad he tells me for a kid that grew up on a council estate with his single mum.

Simon was paired up with Alan Johnson MP who became an important mentor in his life as Alan went on to become Secretary of State for Education and Skills from 2006 to 2007. Simon listened to Alan deliver multiple iconic speeches over the years mixing his personal story with the national story during the Thatcher years.

Simon explains that a good speechwriter has to find what's inside someone's soul. Most great speeches must not simply contain a list of your attributes and achievements as the audience is not that interested. Simon remembers advice from Peggy Noonan (speechwriter to Ronald Reagan) who said "reading is collecting wisdom and writing is spending it."

Simon has a passion for helping the younger generation learn this skills and shares his advice of 'be proud to be yourself and be proud to show yourself to the world.'

Simon's 3 Top Tips for any leader include:
1. The audience is more important than the speaker. It's not what you want to say but what the audience want to hear.
2. Emotions are more powerful than logic, this is based on biological fact.
3. Less is more

www.bespokespeeches.com
He is the author of 'Connect' a book that helps a general audience that wants to be better at connecting and communicating with people. Available on Amazon.

Simon would love to write a speech for Oprah, so if you are listening...........!

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