许多领导人也是强大的公开演讲者，这不足为奇。为了取得成功，领导者需要能够清楚，自信地传达思想。但是，一位领导人 - 顾问总统卡马拉·哈里斯（Kamala Harris）担任了额外的角色public speaking coachon more than one occasion, offering precise and consistent advice to very different constituents.
Here are two of the most publicized moments:
In April 2021, during the veep’s访问对于新罕布什尔州电动合作社，技术人员杰夫·伯德（Jeff Bird）应该在新闻媒体面前向她发表简短的演讲。但是在伯德开始后的片刻之后，他停了下来，慌张地失去了自己的话，即使他的整个演讲都写在纸牌上。
“Excuse me,” he said, embarrassed. “I’m just really nervous.”
Vice President Harris coached him from afar. “We need to know what you know, so just tell us, because we don’t know what you know,” she said. “You’re teaching right now.”
When Bird still stammered, the vice president walked up to him. Pointing to the reporters and cameras, she said, “All these guys—they may or may not understand what you do, but they need to understand what you do because what you do is so important. You are building up our country . . . so teach them what you know, because they don’t know, and they need to understand it.”
Bird eventually completed his speech and thanked her.
Two years earlier, Harris offered very similaradvice对于一群在新罕布什尔州的竞选活动中，一群年轻妇女问她如何在公共场合如此舒适。
“When you stand up to speak, remember that it’s not about you,” she said. “The thing that’s most important is that everyone knows what you know because they need to know what you know. When you give your speech, you know something you have to share with people that they need to know.”
Her advice boils down to this: Realize that, first, you know something your audience doesn’t know but needs to know; and second, it’s your job to share it with them.
As a public speaking coach for more than 15 years, I consider this very practical and effective advice for all speakers, as it was for both the adult professional and the young schoolgirl; and here’s why:
与你无关
When you give a speech, the occasion isn’t a test of your personality, your appearance, or even your ability. In most settings, giving a speech is not about you at all. It’s about your point—and moving that point effectively from your head to your audience’s heads.
Knowing this should make speakers feel less nervous and judged, as the focus shifts from person to purpose. The goal is not to be perfect or even to perform; the goal is simply to present.
It’s About What They Need to Know
Too many speakers start with the question, “What doI想说吗？”这是一个错误的问题，因为它没有开始考虑公开演讲的真正目标：不仅大声说话，而且会影响听众。为了吸引和启发听众，正确的问题是：theywant and need to know?”
Once you identify and connect what your audience needs to hear (“what they don’t know”) with the unique knowledge or insight you have (“what you know”), your speech basically writes itself.
Whether you’re a business leader, public official, intern, or student, the keys to confident and competent public speaking are just as Vice President Harris laid them out: “Teach them what you know because they don’t know, and they need to understand it.”
Giving yourself that sense of purpose will reinforce your point and reduce your panic, and if it works for the vice president of the United States, it can probably work for you too.
Joel Schwartzbergoversees executive communications for a major national nonprofit, is a professional presentation coach, and is the author of “The Language of Leadership: How to Engage and Inspire Your Team“ 和 ”Get to the Point! Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter.”