Movies are a passion of mine, but rarely do I encourage others to attend those that I see.
“The King’s Speech” is an exception. It was superb. The story line, the acting, the cinematography – all great. Of course, for me, the theme (public speaking) was not only inspiring, but also congruent with my personal mission.
For those of you who don’t know, it was a “true” story about Prince Albert who ultimately became King George VI of Britain (and was the father of present day Queen Elizabeth II).
As a child, he developed a serious stammer. This speech impediment impacted his ability to speak in public – a key role for royalty. Although he worked with many physicians, he was not able to overcome this stammer.
Ultimately, he started to work with a self-proclaimed (not academically trained) speech therapist. His non-conventional methods worked, enabling King George to inspire his nation during WWII.
Four key lessons learned from “The King’s Speech”
- Change is possible.
- Change takes a commitment and hard work.
- The ability to speak is critical in all professions.
- Coaching plays a big role in change.
I love what I do as an executive coach and professional speaker, because I can play a part in helping others improve their ability to communicate – to better connect and convince.
“The King’s Speech” was a reinforcement of the value a coach can bring, and is an inspiration to us all.