Ehwaz & Othala Media
Notes on speeches, LinkedIn, media and how leaders find their voice in writing. I'm Alex McNab, a ghostwriter and former government press officer, and I write these myself.
Speeches and leadership communication
Burnham's first speech outside No 10 kept the same rhetorical fingerprint as his acceptance speech three days earlier, in a far harsher format. For leaders, I think the lessons are that a consistent linguistic signature makes your voice recognisable, staging carries meaning, and one specific first action is remembered long after the speech.
5 min read
Speeches and leadership communication
Andy Burnham's acceptance speech as Labour leader was a classic restoration address, but I think the craft inside it is worth a closer look. Four devices travel well to business: crediting a predecessor through a shared achievement, asking questions that let the audience finish your argument, borrowing an opponent's language with care, and defining yourself by what you won't do.
6 min read