My head is full after the first day of my workshop for speechwriters. Many people attending this write for the CEOs of their companies; I ghost-write for a mere VP of EHS – or sometimes I write just to get my own stuff out there in a new, impactful way. So it’s very cool to be here. A lot of what’s being taught I know, but it never hurts to have ‘rules’ reinforced and to hear other people’s stories. And there are always a few gems. One of the more interesting ideas put forth today was the use of ‘magical objects’ in powerful speeches.
A magical object was described as something significant to the speech-giver that is used to anchor emotion in speeches. The emotion is then used to hook the audience. The example given was a bell in a pediatric cancer ward. At this hospital, when a child goes home “cancer-free”, the medical staff gathers and cheers the child off as he rings the bell. Every sick child knows that one day they will have a chance to ring the bell. Now imagine the head of that pediatric ward has to give a speech at a fund-raising event. If she brings the bell to the gala and maybe even lets a cancer survivor ring the bell, she makes a very powerful emotional connection with the audience.
The speaker putting forth this idea today believes that every leader has a magical object – and every company probably does too. Levi jeans might have a rivet. I think J&J’s might be the metal first aid kit with the red cross. It represents our heritage. There are personal magical objects too. They might be somewhat obvious, like a piece of heirloom jewelry. But they could be something ordinary with a story – like grandmother’s rolling pin that was used by her grandfather to escape the Nazis in Germany. To anyone else, it’s just a rolling pin. But to that family, it’s a symbol of strength and survival.
If I’m to determine my boss’ magical object, I’ll need to do so before they move us into FlexSpace and disinfect us of all personal objects. Currently, she has more personal objects than anybody else I know at J&J; they completely line the windowsills on two walls, her bookcase, her desk and a cabinet. I’m going to feel like Harry Potter searching for a horcrux unless I just ask her!
A magical object was described as something significant to the speech-giver that is used to anchor emotion in speeches. The emotion is then used to hook the audience. The example given was a bell in a pediatric cancer ward. At this hospital, when a child goes home “cancer-free”, the medical staff gathers and cheers the child off as he rings the bell. Every sick child knows that one day they will have a chance to ring the bell. Now imagine the head of that pediatric ward has to give a speech at a fund-raising event. If she brings the bell to the gala and maybe even lets a cancer survivor ring the bell, she makes a very powerful emotional connection with the audience.
The speaker putting forth this idea today believes that every leader has a magical object – and every company probably does too. Levi jeans might have a rivet. I think J&J’s might be the metal first aid kit with the red cross. It represents our heritage. There are personal magical objects too. They might be somewhat obvious, like a piece of heirloom jewelry. But they could be something ordinary with a story – like grandmother’s rolling pin that was used by her grandfather to escape the Nazis in Germany. To anyone else, it’s just a rolling pin. But to that family, it’s a symbol of strength and survival.
If I’m to determine my boss’ magical object, I’ll need to do so before they move us into FlexSpace and disinfect us of all personal objects. Currently, she has more personal objects than anybody else I know at J&J; they completely line the windowsills on two walls, her bookcase, her desk and a cabinet. I’m going to feel like Harry Potter searching for a horcrux unless I just ask her!