A Lesson From Honest Abe

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." ~President Abraham Lincoln, 1863

Today is the 150th anniversary of the infamous Gettysburg Address, written and delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863.  Only about 270 words, this short speech has become a part of the fabric of our culture.  Originally, spectators at the new cemetery in Gettysburg thought that the speech was amateurish.  Its length paled in comparison to the speech delivered prior to it by Edward Everett which lasted over 2 hours.  But Lincoln’s speech is the one that has lasted throughout the ages.  Upon hearing Lincoln’s speech, Everett stated "I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes".  The Gettysburg Address shows us the power of words.  The reason that Lincoln’s speech could be so brief is because every word and every phrase was strategically chosen to reflect the thoughts of the speaker. 

When giving a speech, people often think that more is better.  But taking advice from Charmin, many times “less is more”.   Speeches are given for many different purposes.  When you really want to inspire your audience and ensure that they remember your points, shorter is often better.  The ability to clearly communicate is one of the most important skills of leadership.

There are several points we can garner from the Gettysburg Address:
1. Choose your words carefully to ensure that your thoughts are clearly stated and memorable.
2. Remove fluff from your speeches when your desire is to make a clear statement. Carefully choose your words the first time so that you can eliminate repetition without reducing the impact of your speech.
3. When you possess a clear set of principles and act on those principles, your words possess more meaning because even when you say less, people can look back at your record and the foundation you stand upon and know that what you say is what you believe.  When people don’t know you and trust you, you often have to include more supporting information in your speech in order to establish repport with your audience.  By 1863, citizens overall knew what to expect from “Honest Abe”.

Lincoln showcased these speech writing skills in other speeches as well. His second inaugural address was only 700 words and is one of the most referenced inaugural speeches.  For comparison, President Obama's second inaugural address was 2,114 words!  As we celebrate the Gettysburg Address, I encourage you to listen to a recitation of the speech. Read the words for yourself and observe how amazing this short speech really is.  Take some tips from President Abraham Lincoln and apply his speech writing tips to your next speech.  If you do, I know I will see you on the highway to success.