Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience
The recent Changemakers Insight Series webinar featured a special guest, Terry Szuplat, former Presidential speechwriter and author of “Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience.” Joining STRATA9 Founder Rosye Blancas Cloud, Szuplat shared key insights from his upcoming book and reflected on his unique experience writing for the President of the United States. Their discussion offered powerful lessons in public speaking, storytelling, and effective communication—skills that can inspire and engage any audience.
Drawing on his time at the White House, Szuplat’s Say It Well serves as a comprehensive guide for mastering public speaking, focusing on how to use storytelling to connect with and inspire others. His key message? There's no "one-size-fits-all" approach to communication. Instead, as he urged the audience, “say what only you can say.” Szuplat emphasized, “We all have stories within us. If we just let them out, we become better speakers. No one else can tell your story better than you.” This reminder highlights the value of authenticity in communication—being true to your unique voice makes your message resonate.
A major theme of the discussion was understanding your audience. Szuplat advised, “Think deeply about the values of your audience.” Rosye Blancas Cloud echoed this sentiment, reinforcing the importance of audience awareness: “Understand the room you’re going into. Know what matters to your audience.” This alignment between speaker and audience is critical. Whether you're delivering a keynote or speaking to a small group, connecting your message to your audience’s values is what makes it memorable.
The conversation also explored how to structure messages effectively. Szuplat stressed the importance of clarity and brevity, advising, “Boil your pitch down to one sentence. Know your 10 words.” This tip encourages speakers to distill their core message, ensuring that it’s concise and impactful. Szuplat also offered a straightforward framework for organizing thoughts: “Note down the three key elements of your message: Problem, Solution, Change/Result.” This structure provides clarity while guiding the audience through a logical flow, making your message both compelling and actionable.
One of Szuplat’s most important pieces of advice was the value of thoughtful preparation. “Give yourself the space and grace to do some deep thinking before you start writing,” he said. Effective communication starts long before the words are spoken—it begins with reflection. By giving yourself time to think about what you truly want to convey, you’ll craft a message that is not only clear but also meaningful.
Throughout the webinar, Terry Szuplat and Rosye Blancas Cloud illustrated the power of storytelling in leadership. Both emphasized that effective leadership is grounded in authentic, intentional communication. Their insights reinforced the idea that a leader’s voice can inspire change when it’s aligned with the values of the audience and driven by clarity.
Say It Well provides a powerful foundation for anyone looking to refine their public speaking skills—whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out. By embracing storytelling, focusing on clarity, and deeply connecting with your audience, leaders can inspire with confidence and drive meaningful impact.
Get your copy of Terry’s book here.
Connect with Terry Szuplat on LinkedIn.
Connect with Rosye Blancas Cloud on LinkedIn.
If you would like to learn more about some of the consultative services available to you through STRATA9, visit our website at STRATA9.com or contact John Barnshaw (john.barnshaw@strata9.com).