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Analysis of a Speech by Phil Davison

Mannerofspeaking.

  • September 11, 2010

The video below has been spreading like wildfire on the Internet. It is a short speech by Phil Davison, a Republican candidate for the position of Treasurer in Stark County, Ohio.

Phil Davison

Davison’s speech, which was given to about 100 people, is, to say the least, memorable. In his blog, my friend  Max Atkinson  states that in over 30 years of collecting tapes of speeches, he has never seen anything quite like it.

News agencies and YouTubers are, perhaps not surprisingly, having a field day with the story. Now, I know nothing about Davison or the burning political issues in Stark County, Ohio.  But I would like to take a different tack and try to analyze the speech to see what lessons we can learn from it from the public speaking perspective.

First, the speech. If you haven’t seen it, fasten your seatbelt.

Two lessons

  • Lesson No. 1:  Speakers must control their emotions. Speaking with passion is one of the most important things a speaker can do. But the passion must be harnessed and channeled in a constructive manner. Otherwise the speech becomes a runaway freight train. Do not let your emotions get the better of you.
  • Lesson No. 2:  If you must refer to extensive notes , you are probably better off staying behind the lectern. If you step away, only to have to hasten back, it is very distracting. A speaker should move with purpose and confidence and not pace back and forth.

Additional observations

  • 0:00 – 0:30  During his opening, Davison referred to his notes at least ten times in 30 seconds. It is OK to use notes if you need them, but at the very least you should have your opening memorized as it is the first impression that you make on the audience. Note the mistake about the date of the election. Not a major gaffe, but not something you want to have happen right of the bat.
  • 0:35  Here, Davison explains a bit of his background, noting that he has served on his home county’s council for 13 years. Somewhat oddly, though, he tries to indicate the number 13 by holding up a combination of his fingers. Gestures should be meaningful; the gesture here was not needed.
  • 0:43 – 1:00  Davison sets out his educational background and, for the most part, he does a good job. He makes good eye contact and his voice is strong but measured – at least until he mentions his degree in communications.
  • 1:00 – 1:22  The finger-pointing and the tone are not likely to generate much sympathy. As for “I will not apologize for my tone tonight”, it would have helped if Davison had said exactly  why  he was so visibly upset. If the incumbent had done something to merit this degree of consternation, it would have helped to say so, if for no other reason than to assure people that this was heartfelt indignation rather than just ranting.
  • 1:22 – 1:35  “Republican in times good and bad.” Well, OK, he is a loyal Republican and he is speaking to members of his political party, but the statement is hackneyed, without any concrete examples and he screams it.
  • 1:35 – 2:05  This was a key part of the speech. Davison had a very powerful quote from Albert Einstein, but his emotion got the best of him and he botched the line. Unfortunate.
  • 2:05 – 2:35  He began by talking about the situation in the Treasurer’s office and how there was a need for structure and guidance. I was hoping to hear something substantive, a concrete example of what was needed. But there was only shouting, vague talk about “aggressive” campaigning and mixed metaphors (“hit the ground running and come out swinging”).
  • 2:35 – 3:00  He tried to engage the audience by asking what drastic times require, and this was good. But I would like to have seen the look on the face of the person who gave the answer (“drastic measures”) when Davison thanked him. His thank you was … beyond exuberant.
  • 3:00 – 3:40  I liked how Davison appeared to speak extemporaneously by referring to something his friend had just said. But the bit about “infestation” and politics being “winner take all” was incongruous and incomprehensible.
  • 3:40 – 4:40  I thought that this was, relatively, one of the best parts of the speech. Davison was calm and measured.
  • 4:40 – 5:52  But it didn’t last long as the “let’s use this knowledge … as a weapon” and the “both barrels guns loaded” was just grandstanding. The rest of the speech was relatively calm, but by this time the impression had been made.

Ultimately, Phil Davison did not get the nomination. In  this article , he expresses his disappointment and his desire for feedback. Well, if he ever reads this blog, I hope that this post helps. Going forward, I would offer Davison the following ideas to consider:

  • Have someone proofread the speech to cut out excessive posturing and ensure that the content is substantive enough.
  • Practice the speech often, including moving with purpose.
  • Get comfortable without notes or with just the main points as an  aide mémoire .
  • Breathe deeply.
  • Find a quiet place to warm-up right before speaking by swinging the arms, clapping the hands, stretching, etc. to release some of that nervous energy.
  • Stay well hydrated . Avoid caffeine.

And finally, let’s not forget one thing. It might not have been the greatest speech, but at least Phil Davison had the courage of his convictions to stand up in front of 100 people and have a kick at the can. And that’s what public speaking is all about. It’s easy to criticize from the “cheap seats” but it’s another matter when you’re the one on stage.

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Excellent analysis. You were also quite polite. It usually doesn’t have to be written down, but at some point, the speaker broke this fundamental rule; don’t sound like a raving lunatic!

Thanks, TJ. He was clearly wound up about something. I later read some comments on other sites that there had been scandals in the Treasurer’s office before; perhaps that was what fired him up so much. The problem, as I said, was that he let his emotions get the better of him. If he could learn to focus that emotional energy constructively, he could be a good speaker. Remember what Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.”

Hi John, Thanks for responding. Yes, he might be a great speaker one day. … Time will tell.

Thanks for this analysis, John. It is a lesson on how to evaluate a speech with objectivity. I also appreciate that you read more about the issue to be able, I suppose, to understand why he delivered in this manner.

Thank you for the comment, Irlande. I figured that more there were more than enough snide comments about the matter already. I figured that I would leave the punditry anf other commentary to others and try to focus purely on the mechanics of the speech. Cheers!

In fact what impresses me in Davison’s speech is the high level of adrenaline. His voice is trembling, like it seems to be his all body. Frankly, when I am angry, I must look like him. Very scary! So, John, thank you very much for having pointed out, in your analysis, the good points and the points to be improved. It is extremely educational.

Thanks for the comment, Manuela. I wish that there had been more good than bad in the speech! However, if Davison can learn to control that emotion, and if he does not need to rely on notes so heavily, he could (potentially) be a much better speaker than the person we saw in the video.

What a classy response to what others are treating as mere snark fodder. Thanks for the civility, and the public speaking hints! Watching Mr. Davison’s presentation, I found myself strongly put off by the manner in which he made eye contact with the audience. I’m no public speaking expert, but I felt he came off as overly confrontational because of the way he would keep his eyes locked on his listeners during pauses in his delivery–as if daring someone to disagree with his previous statement. The fact that he did this while stalking back and forth only magnified the effect, which was rather like getting dressed down by a football coach after a particularly bad first half. Anyway, I would be curious to hear what you, a seasoned public speaker, thought about his eye contact and how to improve it. Cheers, Cindy (a rather rushed and mumbly speaker) in Texas

Cindy, Thanks very much for such a thoughtful comment. Much appreciated. You raise an excellent point about the eye contact. Making eye contact is critical for building rapport with one’s audience. In this case, however, I agree that Davison’s eye contact was far too intense. And that pacing did indeed magnify the effect. How to improve it? Well, I do think that if he were to control his emotions more the next time, there would be a positive knock-on effect in many aspects of his delivery, including the eye contact. I think that being more relaxed would help his facial expressions, and the face is a backdrop, if you will, for the eyes. Smiling at one’s audience also works wonders at building rapport. Who was it who said that a smile is the shortest distance between two people? Making eye contact with people is certainly not a problem for Davison – and he sure seemed to cover the entire audience, which was good. So if he can harness the emotion – I can’t help but come back to that – relax and smile a bit, it will help immensely. Thanks again for taking the time. Cheers! John PS – If you speak half as well as you write, I have trouble believing the part about being “rushed and mumbly”.

John, I sincerely thank you for making me aware of this. This is now one of my all-time favorite YouTube clips. This guy is all over the place!! You did a great job of breaking it down, noting his…um…errors in judgment, and offering practical advice. Certainly passion is an integral part of effective presenting, but no need to bring a tidal wave when a 5-foot wave is all you need! Jon Thomas Presentation Advisors

Thanks, Jon. It is indeed an exuberant speech! I enjoyed your tidal wave analogy. Cheers! John

Good idea to take the positive! I guess a lot of what to take from it depends on if he was genuinely that worked up, or if he was just ‘faking it’ (perhaps because of bad training etc.)

Thanks, Simon. If he wasn’t actually that worked up, but was just “faking it”, then he is one impressive actor! But I think he was genuinely caught up in the moment. Here is an interesting clip in which he talks about his speech and why he gave it the way he did. You decide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImHasRL6QxE John

Thanks – I’d not seen that. Now decided! 🙂

Great analysis of a speech that was truly painful to watch. I agree especially with your points on moderating emotions (not subverting them, but using them effectively) and letting the audience in on why he was so upset. Just explaining where he was coming from could have helped so much. To understand his deep anger and frustration would have made a world of difference to me.

Thanks very much, Lisa. Indeed, had he tempered his emotion and given the audience some important background – explaining where he was coming from, as you say – it would have made a significant difference. Cheers! John

Excellent post – I admire you for being able to watch it enough times to review it!

Thanks, Rich. It was a bit of a challenge at first, but it became easier with time. Once the initial reaction wore off, it wasn’t as difficult to be dispassionate about the speech. John

Kudos on your excellent evaluation! Thanks for sharing it with this Linkedin group. One more point to remember: a speaker can be too monotone even when yelling. Russell Leavitt Group Administrator

Thanks, Russell. That’s an excellent point: being too monotone even when yelling. Not two words we usually associate with each other, but you are absolutely right.

Great analysis! It’s refreshing (and kinda sad) to really break it down. There were two things that stood out to me that you did not mention. First, when he “pledged faith” to the Republican Party, he spoke well, but even that ran false or came off as posturing because of the way he stood “at ease”…almost passive. This definitely fed into the crazed sense of the speech even though he was calm. The second, was actually my favorite part of his speech, a moment where some truth slipped out, and may have been what was really upsetting him in someway (I later read he didn’t have a chance BEFORE the speech). This is the quote: “Government may be about service–politics is about winning!” Perhaps he has served well, but still can’t win. Is this a well known phrase? It seems very powerful, very true, and seems to describe what is going so terribly wrong with our system these days. I know this is a bit off topic. Anyway, is this phrase known to anyone?

Hi bil_, Thanks for the detailed comment. I agree with you that the pledge did come off as posturing (even though I have no doubt that he was sincere about his commitment to the Party). Interesting second comment. I have heard the phrase before although I wouldn’t ascribe it the level of a proverb. I came across this quote by David Horowitz: “Politics is about winning. If you don’t win, you don’t get to put your principles into practice. Therefore, find a way to win, or sit the battle out.” There is a lot of truth in that statement and it sounds very rational (even if a bit Machiavellian). Had Davison said something – in a calm voice – along the lines of “Politics is about winning; it always has been and always will be. We must win this election if we are serious about restoring credibility and accountability to the Treasurer’s Office.” – that would have tempered the quote and added credibility to his message. But again, the emotion got the better of him. Thanks again. John

Nice find on the quote. If Davidson had said anything close to your suggestion, he would be a different candidate. I find the juxtaposition of service and winning to be the most intriguing feature, and the most lucid thought of the speech. This position, of winning vs. serving, seems to sum up the great disconnect in our electoral process quite well (painting with a broad brush here I realize). It is only ironic that these words of wisdom, coined or not, would come at the end of a speech that proved the distinction and disconnect within itself. Thank you for elevating the conversation, challenging me to think, and advocating that improvement is not only possible but preferable.

Hi, John — Good post — you took the time to analyze some of the more excruciating parts of the speech that I wanted to pass over … quickly. The combination of adrenaline and emotion was what made the speech memorable. I blogged about the speech too, as an example of a lack of tact. I think speakers need to be able to judge an audience, a moment, and a set of circumstances, and adjust their rhetoric and passion on the fly. That this gentleman got it so spectacularly wrong just underlines the need to get it right.

Thanks for the comment, Nick. I like the way that you put it – the audience, the moment, the circumstances. Giving a speech is like driving a car along the highway. Even if the road is straight, we cannot hold the steering wheel perfectly still; otherwise the car will eventually drive off to one side. We must constantly make little adjustments along the way. And that is what a speech is like. Though sometimes we have to make bigger adjustments than others! John

Analyzing the Phil Davison stump speech = blog traffic.

Increased blog traffic is always welcome, but I hope that the analysis added some value. Thanks for the comment.

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elevator speech by phil davison

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  • The worst speech ever given, seriously! And 3 great things you should copy from it.

It really is the worst speech ever given in the history of human communication. Ever!

If you haven’t yet seen this  Elevator Speech  by Phil Davidson (running for Stark County Treasurer for the Republican Party in 2010), watch it now. You won’t be disappointed. If you’ve seen it before, treat yourself and watch it again.

So bad, it’s great. So painful it’s comforting.

(love his attempt to quote Einstein @ 1min:45secs)

But when you’ve finished laughing, here are 3 things he actually gets right, that all of us should be sure to copy for our next speech.

1. Passion – OK, he goes way over the top ultimately, but there is no denying the man’s passion. He puts his heart out there front and centre and is truly giving it all he’s got.

Passion signifies authenticity, which builds your credibility. It is the most important factor when trying to convey sincerity. The equation in your audience’s mind is: “If he’s so passionate about this, he must really believe it”.

Of course, passion is not to be confused with bluster and loudness. Gandhi was a passionate speaker, but he did not scream and shout in his speeches. True passion (the kind that will resonate with your audience) comes from the passion you reveal for your subject. You must convey to your audience that sense that you are so engrossed in your topic that you would happily speak about your subject for hours to an empty room.

When your audience feels your authenticity, they will believe you all the more. 2. Appearance – probably because everything else he did was so over-powering, I’ll bet you didn’t notice this. Look again – that’s actually a fine looking suit. Mr Davidson is actually extremely well turned out, and would probably have received a few votes for appearance alone if he hadn’t gone on to actually speak.

Appearance matters because first impressions matter. Before you say a word your audience has already made an infinite number of assumptions about you, all based on what your appearance conveys to them.

Of course, this doesn’t mean it has to be a suit. You could wear combat trousers and a hoodie if that will connect better with your audience; or a dinner jacket and bow tie for that gala keynote speech; or blue jeans and a turtleneck (a la Steve Jobs). It’s about dressing appropriately for the occasion, so that how you look sends the message you want to send to your audience.

3. Movement – Just because there is a podium, doesn’t mean you have to be tied to it. Podiums and lecterns actually create a physical barrier between you and your audience that can create a disconnect if you’re not careful.

Again, our friend Mr Davidson does a bit too much movement but at least he doesn’t stay static. He punctuates his speech with motion, hand gestures, audience interaction and great eye contact, and this helps us stay focused on him – that and the fact that he is clearly nuts!

So for your next speech, move; pace the stage; use meaningful arm and hand movement (studies have shown that complex thinkers actually use more hand gestures). It will help to give you and your speech a greater sense of dynamism. OK. Now, go on. Watch it again!

Kolarele Sonaike

p.s. That’s his Elevator Speech. Are you sure yours is much better? Be sure to get my Free Guide: 7 Steps to an effective Elevator Pitch people will pay attention to Elevator Pitch Cheat Sheet https://kolarele.leadpages.co/leadbox-900.js

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The Two-Way

The Two-Way

Craziest stump speech ever candidate: 'that's how i felt'.

Mark Memmott

Phil Davison, who wanted to be the GOP nominee for treasurer in Stark County, Ohio, is getting his 15 minutes of fame for video of the extremely  intense speech he gave before fellow Republicans Wednesday  night. It's must-see TV for political junkies:

Sal Gentile at PBS' Need to Know blog tracked Davison down, and the would-be candidate (he didn't get the nomination) had this to say:

"My speech ... I knew it might be a little over the edge, but that's how I felt at the time. ... If it spurs someone to go on and say, 'You know what, I want to go up there and talk like that too, I want to make a difference, I want to get involved in my community.' If it affects one person in a positive way, then it was worth it."

Alexandra Petri at The Washington Post 's PostPartisan blog makes an interesting point:

"Time was, someone like Phil Davison could have given this speech, and no one would have noticed. Maybe the people there might have mailed daguerreotypes of it to their friends, but that was about it. More recently, someone would have captured the audio and played it on the radio, but the video wouldn't have gone viral."

Now, of course, with the Web, YouTube and ... blogs ... a Davison or a Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner or a Republican Sen. Ted Stevens can become as well known for a few minutes caught on video as anything else.

We do want politicians to be honest and "real," right?

Update at 4:30 p.m. ET: Davison tells the local CantonRep.com that “I consider myself an old-school politician. ... Back to the days of when you get up and tell people what you think. ... Prior to today, I didn't know what 'viral' meant or what 'Huffington Post' meant."

(H/T to Huffington Post for saving the Davison video.)

  • Phil Davison

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elevator speech by phil davison

WATCH: This Councilman Has Seen Too Many Movies

elevator speech by phil davison

Politicians: What did they do before their every move was watched by cameras?

When Councilman Phil Davison tried to convince the Stark County, Ohio Republican executive committee to select him as the party’s nominee for county treasurer last night, he really tried to convince them. Instead of a normal stump speech, Davison whipped out an impassioned six-minute plea that seemed like it should have been coming from a villain in act II of a Hollywood drama.

In honor of Davison’s impressive oratory, we’ve selected the five best quotes from his speech and the Oscar-nominated actor best equipped to deliver them:

“I will not apologize for my tone tonight. I have been a Republican in times good, and I have been a Republican in times bad!”

The classic mixture of dignity and a pinch of self-pity in this sentence would be an excellent fit for the actor Chris Cooper

“Politics is not touch football. Politics is winner-take-all. It always has been, and it always will be!”

The scoffing in this sentence could be perfectly delivered by a Glengarry-era Alec Baldwin

“Knowledge is power. […] Let’s use this knowledge not only as a tool — but as a weapon!”

This part is so off-kilter that only Christopher Walken could do it justice

“If nominated tonight I will win this election! And I’m going to say that again so there’s no miscommunication tonight! If nominated tonight, I win! Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell Randy Gonzalez! I’m coming. Both barrels, guns loaded .”

There’s only one person in Hollywood who can pull off this bit of manic rage: Al Pacino at his over-acting finest

“I used to be an idealistic thinker, now I am a pragmatic thinker. Government is about service, politics is about winning!”

Need someone to deliver oily epigrams? Get Michael Douglas on speed-dial (And get well soon, Mike!)

But you know, all these dramatics aren’t really NewsFeed’s style. Perhaps we could get Davison in a buddy comedy with Basil Marceaux and Jan Brewer ? Call it Three Republicans and A Little Viral Video. (via HuffPost)

UPDATE: PBS has the first post-fame interview with Davison, and it’s actually quite an interesting read.

NBC Los Angeles

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The worst speech ever given, seriously! And 3 great things you should copy from it.

by Kolarele Sonaike

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COMMENTS

  1. The worst speech ever given and three great things to copy ...

    The worst speech ever given, seriously! And 3 great things you should copy from it. If you haven’t yet seen this Elevator Speech by Phil Davidson (running for Stark County Treasurer for the Republican Party in 2010), watch it now. You won’t be disappointed.

  2. Analysis of a Speech by Phil Davison - Manner of speaking

    Phil Davison, a Republican candidate for the position of Treasurer in Stark County, Ohio, gave an unforgettable speech, but not for the right reasons.

  3. The worst speech ever given, seriously! And 3 great things ...

    It really is the worst speech ever given in the history of human communication. Ever! If you haven't yet seen this Elevator Speech by Phil Davidson (running for Stark County Treasurer for the Republican Party in 2010), watch it now.

  4. Craziest Stump Speech Ever Candidate: 'That's How I Felt' - NPR

    Mark Memmott. Phil Davison, who wanted to be the GOP nominee for treasurer in Stark County, Ohio, is getting his 15 minutes of fame for video of the extremely intense speech he gave before...

  5. A Frame Analysis of a Viral Video - thesociologicalcinema.com

    Summary: Many students will be familiar with Minerva, Ohio Councilman Phil Davison's speech, in which he sought the nomination for Stark County Treasurer. In this viral clip, the unbridled enthusiasm and apparent anger expressed by Councilman Davison catch us off guard and strike many as inappropriate.

  6. Phil Davison Talks About the Speech That Made Him a Viral ...

    Phil Davison became an overnight internet sensation this week after a fiery, bizarre speech he made while campaigning to become Stark County Treasurer. He lost his bid, but he's won some fans.

  7. Pol's speech wins fame but no nod - POLITICO

    In the political world, it was the viral video of the day: The impassioned, way-over-the-top, Raging-Bull-style stump speech delivered Wednesday evening by Minerva, Ohio, Councilman Phil...

  8. Phil Davison Has Seen Too Many Movies | TIME.com

    Instead of a normal stump speech, Davison whipped out an impassioned six-minute plea that seemed like it should have been coming from a villain in act II of a Hollywood drama. In honor of...

  9. Phil Davison: Political Speech of the Year – NBC Los Angeles

    The most passionate speech you’ll ever hear, all in an effort to win his party’s nomination for Treasurer in Stark County, Ohio. If Phil Davison doesn’t get you fired up for politics ...

  10. phil davidson speech Archives - The Great Speech Consultancy

    If you haven’t yet seen this Elevator Speech by Phil Davidson (running for Stark County Treasurer for the Republican Party in 2010), watch it now. You won’t be disappointed. It is undoubtedly the worst speech ever given in the history of human...