Notes kill a communicator’s credibility
He had no notes, no autocue, and no lectern...
That's how incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham delivered his first speech as Prime Minster outside Downing Street. What he did signalled something very interesting about the image he wants to project. Mastery over his own ideas for starters...
The problem with speakers using notes
There are countless reasons to speak without notes and a few reasons to use them. But when you take an audience-first rather approach to communication, those reasons for using notes evaporate instantly.
An audience-first approach means every decision is filtered through he lens of what is best for your audience experience and needs to happen in their mind's to meet your speech objective. A speaker-first approach means you do what is most comfortable or convenient for you, not them.
Notes project a negative message
According to Aristotle, credibility is the foundation of persuasion. He called it 'ethos'. One of the key components of ethos is 'practical wisdom'. Meaning a speaker's ability to truly know their craft and make the right practical decisions in the moment.
If truly knowing your craft and being able to make decisions and judgements based on it is part of the foundation of persuasion, what does speaking from notes tell your audience about your grasp of your craft? Perhaps that you don't know it that well?
Don't be remembered as the speaker who used notes
The same speaker going out and delver your same message, but without notes will instantly look more in command of their craft and ideas than you will. But that imaginary scenario aside, if the speakers before and after you don't use notes, how does that make you look? Would you book a speaker for your conference who uses notes?
The Prime Minister's example
Instantly, the Prime Minister has now raised the bar. Every time we see a member of parliament stood behind a lectern, using an autocue or notes they will look inferior to him. Why do they need notes if he can just speak from the heart. What has he got that they haven't?
Are your words your own?
This is the big one for me. Using notes projects the impression they're not really your ideas. And for many politicians this is the case. Often their speeches have been written by a speechwriter. Often with their contribution, but still written by somebody else.
Imagine switching on Netflix and the actors all have a script in their hands? How would you feel? Might it affect the film's believability and credibility? Might it affect your absorption in the message. Would it be possible to believe Charlize Theron really is that character she's playing onscreen once you've seen behind the actor's curtain?
Use notes for rehearsal not for delivery
Aim to get your notes into your mind. This comes through reading them aloud to yourself over and over. Mix it up, read them sitting down, stood up, walking in the park. Your aim isn't word for word memorisation, its saying it until you see it.
Don't be known as the cyclists who still uses stabilisers...
