The Medieval Speechwriter - a podcast by Ian Griffin

Think for a moment of corporate America in terms of Medieval England.



This is of course quite ridiculous. We've come a such a long way since the 14th Century. Back in the Dark Ages literacy was at all-time low. A minority of the population held a passport and had traveled overseas. The rabble was distracted by jousting, feasting and Mystery Plays. And the King gave speeches no-one listened to.



I can't possibly imagine what this era of history has in common with our own.



But what if? What if we did imagine?



What roles would we all play? What do the characters in the Canterbury Tales, or Monty Python and the Holy Grail tell us about life today?



Obviously the CEO is the King (or, in rare cases, the Queen). An enlightened monarch or raging despot ruling over the organization. The EVPs and SVPs are the Barons at Court, consumed by intrigue and power plays. Sales managers are the Knights, conquering new territory. The staff are serfs and peasants, laboring in cubicle farms.



What about the speechwriter? What roles best suit the speechwriter in this Medieval analogy?



Actually, there's quite a number which fit the job description.



For starters, how about the speechwriter as the Motley Fool?

The Motley Fool

The fool on the hill

Sees the sun going down,

And the eyes in his head,

See the world spinning 'round.

- The Beatles: Fool on the Hill

The Fool in the Medieval Court stands behind King’s throne. While Barons and Knights give measured advice the Fool whispers in the King's ear "That's boring. Rubbish! Claptrap! The people won't buy it. You'll have to spice it up to keep their attention at the Guild Hall Luncheon tomorrow. Make 'em laugh my liege. Tell 'em a story."



The Fool adds Laughter! Humor! Interest! He has King’s ear, for the moment. The King tolerates him (just) and values his fresh point of view.



The role of the Motley Fool is politically cool. You get to hang out with the powerful and mighty in the land. You might even spend time with the King on the Corporate Jet. But never forget that you're the only person in the room without 5,000 serfs reporting to you and a quarterly number to make.



Screw up and it’s "Off with his head!"



As Robert Schlesinger said about his role in JFK’s White House, speechwriters counter the "diplomatic blandness" the State Department bureaucracy produced.

Lessons for Speechwriters as Fools



Step outside the corporate bureaucracy.

Look at issues and topics with fresh eyes.

Inject humor, levity, tell stories – audiences love it.

Have the courage to speak frankly to the powerful.

Don't show fear when the King growls.



Enough with the Jester. What other role characterizes the job of an Executive Communications Manager (aka Speechwriter) in today's corporation? How about ...

The Ploughman

Businessmen they drink my wine

Ploughmen dig my earth

- Dylan: All Along The Watchtower

A world away from the gilded Court, Ploughmen till the fields. Tedious but necessary work plays a large part in speechwriting. Doing research. Fact-checking. Ploughing through the background papers which spew from Subject Matter Experts like weeds sprouting on a April morning after a few sweet showers.

Lessons for Speechwriters as Ploughmen



It's boring work, but learn to live with it. With any luck you'll have the fields tilled by nightfall and the King will invite you to the feast that evening.

Have systems in place to take care of the boring stuff. Tracking forms; checklists; everything to speed the plough.

Divide up tasks. It's less overwhelming to focus on today's furrow than worry about the rest of the forty-acre field.

Take breaks, quaff ale, be strong behind the plough.

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