Leadership communications with Rob Cottingham
I've worked as a speechwriter, presentation coach and communication strategist—not to mention delivering my share of speeches. From speechwriting and speaking to traditional and social media, here's my best advice on how leaders can communicate to change how audiences see the world.
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Ep. 75. Getting back on track
05/05/2023
Ep. 75. Getting back on track
Getting carried off on a tangent in an interview or Q&A session can be risky. At best, you spend the time you wanted to use getting your message across on some other topic. At worst, you end up talking about sensitive, damaging topics that endanger your organization's reputation. This episode, we look at how you get back on track — quickly, honesty and graciously. Music: All music is by . The theme music is "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 74 Why you need to rehearse — and how
03/30/2023
Ep. 74 Why you need to rehearse — and how
Rehearsal doesn’t kill spontaneity — it gives you the confidence that lets you be spontaneous. You don't just know the material: you know its emotional and literal meaning,nd you've made your big choices about how you're going to convey it. If you want to make the most of your speech, you need to rehearse. And to make that rehearsal count, behold: The Ten Commandments of Rehearsal. Links: , where I make my case for rehearsing Music: All music is by . The theme music is "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: Photo by on
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Ep. 73 No more boring speaker introductions!
06/23/2022
Ep. 73 No more boring speaker introductions!
Before a speaker steps up to the microphone, there's usually somebody who introduces them. And that introduction could be helping to set the stage and prime the audience. But too many introductions are just tedious recitals of a speaker's biography. And they're so loooonnnng. Instead of revving an audience up, they put them to sleep. Let's kill those introductions off once and for all. This episode, we look at what an introduction can do for you and your audience, by promising some combination of six elements: authority, affinity, attraction, value, intrigue and entertainment. We'll talk about how to make your speaker intro effective, engaging and — most important — short! Music: All music is by . The theme music is "" Used under a Creative Commons license.
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Ep. 72 Dana Rubin is Speaking While Female
03/01/2022
Ep. 72 Dana Rubin is Speaking While Female
Pick up a collection of speeches or quotations from history, and chances are most of those voices belong to men. That's changing. More women are claiming their time at the microphone. And it turns out the oratory of the past was a lot more female than many of its curators would have us think. One woman in particular, Dana Rubin, is working to change our understanding of public speaking history — and the role women have played in shaping it. And she's my guest on this episode. Links: The — a tremendously useful resource for speakers, speechwriters and anyone interested in women's oratory The : get in early! Dana Rubin's firm, Dana's LinkedIn group, — now over 5,000 members strong! Music: All music is by . The theme music is "" Used under a Creative Commons license.
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Ep. 71 Get out of your lane
10/18/2021
Ep. 71 Get out of your lane
You’ve probably heard the expression “stay in your lane.” And sometimes that’s good advice — but right now, we’re facing global emergencies on an unprecedented scale, and we need voices speaking out for truth, democracy, science and our very survival. If you have a platform, you can be one of those voices…even if you aren’t an expert. Here’s how to do it responsibly. Links: Music: All music is by . The theme music is "" Used under a Creative Commons license.
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Ep. 70 Find Your Red Thread with Tamsen Webster
07/29/2021
Ep. 70 Find Your Red Thread with Tamsen Webster
There probably isn’t a speechwriter or speaker alive today who hasn’t heard the advice “Tell a story.” But you want them to do more than listen. You want to tell the kind of story your audience will turn into their story. Crafting that story is the heart Tamsen Webster’s terrific new book, Tamsen joins me this episode to talk about the five steps of an effective Red Thread — which just so happen to be a great way to outline your next speech or op-ed. And we talk about how great stories can move audiences and create change. Links: Follow Tamsen and Learn more about Sign up for Tamsen's Music: All music is by . The theme music is "" Used under a Creative Commons license.
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Ep. 69 Seven deadly sins of online presentation (part two)
07/20/2021
Ep. 69 Seven deadly sins of online presentation (part two)
Well over a year into remote presentations as the norm, people are getting pretty good at it... but some mistakes are still cropping up again and again. Last time, we looked at four of the seven deadly sins of online presentations. This time we tour the final three... and then we'll look at how to flip those sins into shining, saintly virtues. Links: My wife has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called Highly recommended for making the most of the new workplace! 's new book is an absolute must-read for crafting messages that move audiences. And stay tuned, because she's joining me for an upcoming episode! Music: All music is by . The theme music is "" Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 68 Seven deadly sins of online presentations (part one)
07/20/2021
Ep. 68 Seven deadly sins of online presentations (part one)
Well over a year into remote presentations as the norm, people are getting pretty good at it... but some mistakes are still cropping up again and again. In this two-episode series, we'll meet the seven deadly sins of online presentations — from not looking at the camera to not knowing your platform. And then we'll look at how to flip those sins into shining, saintly virtues. Links: My wife has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called Highly recommended for making the most of the new workplace! 's new book is an absolute must-read for crafting messages that move audiences. And stay tuned, because she's joining me for an upcoming episode! Music: All music is by . The theme music is "" Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 67. Avoiding plagiarism: Are your words really your own?
06/25/2021
Ep. 67. Avoiding plagiarism: Are your words really your own?
Sure, you and I would never take someone else’s writing and pretend it was our own. But not all plagiarism is deliberate. It can be surprisingly easy to steal someone else’s words by accident. Plagiarism scandals have caught up leaders ranging from presidential candidates to university officials. They’ve derailed campaigns and ended careers. Here’s how to keep that from happening to you — by making sure your words, really are your words. Links: Care to jog your memory? Here’s the background on ’s and ’s plagiarism issues. And in case you missed last episode’s notes: My wife has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called Highly recommended for making the most of the new workplace! I'm thrilled to be reading 's new book . Highly recommended for making the most of your message! Music: All music is by . The theme music is "" Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: Hand modelling, photography and keyboard in desperate need of cleaning are all me.
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Ep. 66. Keep the "thought" in thought leadership
06/04/2021
Ep. 66. Keep the "thought" in thought leadership
So many leadership communications mistakes come down to one thing: not having a clear goal and a roadmap to get there. That’s especially true when it comes to areas where leaders aren’t as familiar with the subject matter. This episode looks at a high-profile communications failure: an op-ed that blew up in CEO's face, damaged the company's reputation and forced an embarrassing public about-face. We'll look at what went wrong... and how you can keep your communications on track. The important thing: Don't let stories like this discourage you from speaking up! You can make a positive contribution to the conversation… but it starts with doing the work. Links: in the Washington Post on the backlash against her op-ed My wife has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called Highly recommended for making the most of the new workplace! I'm thrilled to be reading 's new book . Highly recommended for making the most of your message! Music: All music is by . The theme music is "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 65. What we've learned from a year of remote presentations
04/28/2021
Ep. 65. What we've learned from a year of remote presentations
Public speaking has changed a lot in the past year, since conference halls and auditoriums went dark and we traded stages and amplifiers for webcams and video. But those changes can help us be better speakers, when the time comes to return to the stage. Links: My wife has co-written a terrific new book on making the most of remote work, called There's a chapter on presentations in there that I got to advise on, and it covers some of what I talk about here. (Think she'd be up for an interview in an upcoming episode?) Music: All music is by . The theme music is "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: Photo by on
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Ep. 64 I now pronounce you... correctly
03/16/2021
Ep. 64 I now pronounce you... correctly
Mispronouncing someone's name from the stage is a lot more than a minor screwup. Here's why speakers should never go to the mic without knowing the correct pronunciation of every name they mention — and why speechwriters should never let them do it.
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Ep. 63. Less is more, and short is beautiful
10/05/2020
Ep. 63. Less is more, and short is beautiful
Presenting online? Don't make the mistake of thinking longer is better. When you're speaking via video, you want to keep things short. Here's how to embrace short, even when you're scheduled to run long. Links: We spoke to back in . His latest book is And since I recorded this episode, a new book is on the scene: by and . It's really, really worth reading, whether you're a speaker, an event planner or just someone trying to wrap your mind around how things are changing in the way we come together to share knowledge, ideas and experience. Photo: on
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Ep. 62. Zoom out! You're more than just another face
09/22/2020
Ep. 62. Zoom out! You're more than just another face
If you're spending all day in Zoom meetings, then it's easy to think that speaking by video automatically means showing your head and shoulders... and nothing else. Let's talk about what you (and your audience) are missing by not letting the rest of your body get in on the act. (The bad news? You're gonna need to start wearing pants again.) Resource: ‘s post Music: All music is by . The theme music is "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Image: on
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61. Go big AND go home: Why you need to amp up your online energy for work-at-home audiences
09/08/2020
61. Go big AND go home: Why you need to amp up your online energy for work-at-home audiences
You might have thought up-close video would be more intimate than speaking from the stage. But one big thing we're learning from remote presentations is this: You need to bring more energy to your speaking style when your audience is at home in front of their screens. Find out why... and how. Music: All music is by . The theme music is "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Image: on
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Ep. 60. The pivot: Mozilla adapts to communicating in the lockdown
05/01/2020
Ep. 60. The pivot: Mozilla adapts to communicating in the lockdown
This time, we look at how the technology visionaries at Mozilla are making the pivot from face-to-face leadership communications to virtual channels. We're joined by , Mozilla's senior executive communications manager. Links: , makers of , , and more. Music: All music by . Theme: "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Image: from Mozilla
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Ep. 59. Leadership communication through curation
03/25/2020
Ep. 59. Leadership communication through curation
If sharing really is caring, then the content you share needs to be content you really care about — and content your audience will care about too. This episode we look at content curation... and why just shovelling links onto Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn without care or context isn't just bad for your reputation — right now, it's dangerous to your audience. Links: I mentioned those mysterious letters "RSS", which really can make your life easier! If you're baffled, . is my newsreader of choice. (My wife and I about what happened to Google Reader.) By the way, the great OG (which helped launch a thousand imitators) comes from Lee and Sachi Lefever. Some of the references are a little dated nearly a decade later, but I still love it. is a handy tool with a free option for searching social media for mentions of keywords, hashtags and usernames. Music: All music by . Theme: "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 58. Going virtual (and staying human)
03/14/2020
Ep. 58. Going virtual (and staying human)
With so many face-to-face presentations being cancelled, a lot of speakers are looking at going virtual. But with webinars and online conferences suddenly getting a second look, it’s important to keep in mind their special demands. This episode, we talk to presentation coach, theorist, blogger, speaker and author about what we lose when we go virtual, and how to make up some of that lost emotional connection. And we’ll hear from author and (her delightful description) camp counselor for grownups . In roughly a week, she’s had to move an event months in the planning into cyberspace. She’ll tell us all about it. This is part of a series on how leadership communicators are grappling with the coronavirus pandemic. Links: Here’s Nick’s book on restoring clarity and connection to online conversations, And be sure to check out his classic on moving audiences to action, . I love everything about Kim’s book . And this might be the perfect time to subscribe to her podcast, . Kim has a great summarizing how her team took their event online. (And that event itself is .) Music: All music by . Theme: "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Image: Based on a photo by on Unsplash
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Ep. 57. Making the best of a cancelled speech
03/14/2020
Ep. 57. Making the best of a cancelled speech
Cancelled speaking gigs are a fact of life, but never more than today. And hey: with social distancing and disease prevention rightly taking precedence over oratory, we know better than to feel sorry for ourselves over postponed conferences and scrubbed events. But when you're left holding a speech without a stage to deliver it on, what's your next move? Instead of letting all your work writing and preparing your presentation go to waste, try these suggestions for getting some real value out of that broken speaking date. This is the third episode of our five-episode series looking at leadership communications in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. Links: goes into more depth on ways you can spin great content from a speech. The hosts my absolute favourite annual conference. They announced this week they're cancelling it for the year, which is devastating for them because it's where most of their revenue comes from. They do terrific work helping nonprofits make the most of digital tech, and Music: All music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 56. Leadership communications in a crisis (part two)
03/10/2020
Ep. 56. Leadership communications in a crisis (part two)
Getting leadership communications right is never more important than in the middle of a crisis. And as COVID-19 coronavirus outbreaks happening throughout much of the world, you may well be facing a crisis soon. Last episode, we talked about planning for your crisis leadership communications. This episode, we look at putting that plan into action with seven key principles: Be transparent and honest. Communicate early. Be proportionate. Connect emotionally. Be flexible. Listen. Inspire hope. And stay tuned all week, as we look at some of the implications of the coronavirus outbreak for leaders and the communications teams that support them. Be safe, everyone. Music: All music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "." Used under a Creative Commons license.
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Ep. 55. Leadership communications in a crisis (part one)
03/09/2020
Ep. 55. Leadership communications in a crisis (part one)
In a crisis, people are looking for reassurance, a sense of security... and leadership. And with COVID-19 coronavirus outbreaks happening across the planet, you may soon need to step up on behalf of your organization — for anything from coping with a supply-chain issue to temporarily shutting your doors. How you communicate will make all the difference for your audience. This two-part episode looks at effective leadership communications in a crisis. Part one is all about preparation: the plans you can put in place now so you're ready when the storm hits... either with this crisis, or the next one. Among other elements, your plan has to specify goals, target audiences, messages, roles and channels. And stay tuned all week, as we look at some of the implications of the coronavirus outbreak for leaders and the communications teams that support them. Music: All music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "." Incidental music is taken from his latest album, . Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 54. It's called public speaking. Not public singing.
02/21/2020
Ep. 54. It's called public speaking. Not public singing.
Are you falling into the trap of sing-song delivery? You could be sapping your speech's strength and breaking your connection to the audience. Here's how to recognize it... and how to stop. Wondering what's different about this episode? Could be the new theme music! Links: talks about how to reclaim your natural voice by talking to an audience of one (even when it's actually one thousand). Those voice acting lessons I mention are at Vancouver's . Highly recommended! Music: All music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "." Incidental music is taken from his latest album, . Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 53. How to Talk to Experts
01/21/2020
Ep. 53. How to Talk to Experts
Sooner or later speechwriters and other leadership communications practitioners find ourselves talking to a subject matter expert: somebody (usually part of your client's organization) who’s going to give some of their time and knowledge to make your speech or article better. Here's how to get the most out of their time and yours. Thanks to Clare Kumar, Deb Rohac, Patti Bacchus, Evan Leeson, Ben Roberts, Ben Lucier, Mark Busse, Rob Beggs, Susan RoAne, Jamie Cohen, Luis Giraldo, James Glave, Anthony Floyd, Andréa Coutu, Richard Eriksson, Robert Beggs and Michele Owens who all weighed in online with their advice for talking to subject matter experts. Music: Theme: "Good Times" by (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/). Incidental music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "And So Then," "Ingenuity," "More On That Later," "Looking Back," "Systematic" and "Sad Marimba Planet." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 52. Drop the pitch!
12/11/2019
Ep. 52. Drop the pitch!
It can be tempting to sell from the stage... especially when you know some of the people in your audience could be great customers. But resist that temptation. Here's why you should leave the sales pitch behind when you head to the mic — and how you can do a much better sales job if you aren't selling. Links: Go listen to , a great podcast by Tamsen and Tom Webster about making unpaid speaking opportunities pay off for you and your audience — without selling from the stage. Music: Theme: "Good Times" by (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/). Incidental music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "4th Avenue Walkup," "Solutions(a)," and "Puzzle Pieces." Used under a Creative Commons license. "Stage Seller's Rag" composed and performed by Rob Cottingham. The album drops next month... into a bay, weighted down by rocks.
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Ep. 51. Zoom in on your audience
11/21/2019
Ep. 51. Zoom in on your audience
Having trouble connecting emotionally with a speech you're writing or rehearsing? Maybe it's because you're trying to speak to the whole audience instead of just one person. This episode, here's why you may want to take a leaf from TV cop shows and zoom way in. (Note: This is episode of the podcast includes mild profanity: The word "bullsh*t" is used several times.) Music: Theme: "Good Times" by (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/). Incidental music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Looking Back," "Lost Days," "Hold Music" and "Here's the Thing." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 50. The Pigeon of Dorian Gray
11/01/2019
Ep. 50. The Pigeon of Dorian Gray
I'm always telling you to tell stories... so for the 50th episode of the podcast, I'm going to share one of my own. It's about what a dead pigeon taught me about being a good speechwriter. Music: Theme: "Good Times" by (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/). Incidental music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "More On That Later," "Places Unseen," "Sad Marimba Planet," "Small Steps," "It Was Like That When I Got Here," "Landing" and "Solutions (c)." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 49. What kind of emotional connection do you want with your audience?
10/24/2019
Ep. 49. What kind of emotional connection do you want with your audience?
Coming up empty as you try to write your speech? Wondering why your presentations aren't landing quite as well as you know they should? You probably know you should connect emotionally with your audience — but maybe you need to think through just what kind of emotional connection you're both looking for. This episode, we look at six kinds of emotional connection, and how you can build them: confidence, trust, understanding, appreciation, shared values and what I call the mensch factor. Music: Theme: "Good Times" by (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/). Incidental music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "In a Moment," "Under Suspicion" and "Places Unseen." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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Ep. 48. Find your speaker superpowers in your origin story
10/17/2019
Ep. 48. Find your speaker superpowers in your origin story
For some reason, we love to hear how superheroes got their powers — their origin stories. And audiences will want to hear yours, too. Here's how to tell the story of how you got here in a way that connects with your audience and even moves them to action... faster (cough) than a speaking bullet. Music: Theme: "Good Times" by (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/). Incidental music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Swiftwind," "Twitter Will Kill Us All," "Pensacola Twilight," "Atmospheres" and "Thoughtful." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: from
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Ep. 47. Careful with that spotlight!
10/01/2019
Ep. 47. Careful with that spotlight!
As leaders, it can be tempting to forget that not everyone likes being the centre of attention. And when you have an audience, you can all too easily throw a harsh, unforgiving spotlight onto someone who isn't ready for it. This episode, we look at how to wield your audience's attention responsibly, whether it's from the stage or online. Links: was kind enough to let me share his story with you. Music: Theme: "Good Times" by (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/). Incidental music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "It Was Like That When I Got Here," "More On That Later" and "Systematic." Used under a Creative Commons license.
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Ep. 46. "Long Shot" and why speakers and speechwriters need some one-on-one time
09/27/2019
Ep. 46. "Long Shot" and why speakers and speechwriters need some one-on-one time
This summer’s film Long Shot is an entire movie about how speechwriter and speaker relate to each other. And it has something to teach us about making that relationship work — and how the key ingredient is time. If you're thinking of catching it, the movie's a lot of fun, even if (or probably because) it isn't exactly a documentary portrayal of political speechwriting. Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen are great, and their chemistry is super (although, ahem, that's a line I don't recommend speechwriters cross with their clients). Links: Most important, props to Long Shot's writers, and . This episode name-checks a bunch of movies and shows, including , , , , and . Music: Theme: "Good Times" by (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/). Incidental music by (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "As I Was Saying," "Small Steps" and "Waterfront." Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo: on
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