A few weeks ago the annual festival was opened here in my hometown of Salzburg. On the occasion of the official opening ceremony, prominent guests and guest speakers met again this year in the Felsenreitschule, the fascinating venue carved into the Mönchsberg rock.

I followed the opening live on the screen. The selection of the opening speakers had often become a political issue in recent years, this time the name of the speaker promised above all well-founded analyses. But something else moved me to look and listen closely. I find it immensely instructive to observe speakers and draw my conclusions from them. I regularly share the findings with my seminar participants and coaches.

In this regard, this opening ceremony was extremely productive. It was held under the motto of the outbreak of the First World War, the official declaration of war of which took place exactly 100 years ago. An important, an emotional, an explosive topic, to which the keynote speaker and historian Prof. Dr. Christopher Clark dedicated. The speech contained everything in terms of content, the good structure, the thematic tension, immense historical expertise. But despite this, Mr. Clark's speech did not seem as intense and gripping as the occasion and the topic require.

Good to see: The speaker clung almost without interruption to the lectern as to the railing in stormy seas. Slightly bent forward, his hands resting on the left and right of the lectern, he read his speech. Yes, he raised his head often enough and made eye contact with the audience. But if body language doesn't follow this eye contact, the contact remains flat and never really establishes itself. The audience senses and senses unconsciously that something is missing. Namely, the enthusiasm, a certain urgency, to get the message across, with everything you have as a speaker. And this "everything" includes standing upright and facing the gestures, giving free rein to the gestures! If the gestures are lively, the voice becomes even more lively and powerful, and thus more convincing. With this speech, which was really impressive in terms of content, Mr. Clark has perfectly demonstrated his high level of expertise as a recognized historian. Hardly anyone has been carried away, shaken up and gripped with his message, I dare to say.

This ceremonial speech confirms my observations in the business world are exemplary: executives, CEOs who speak officially work endlessly on content with their assistants. Individual sentences are fine-tuned so that it is a pleasure. Two to three correction loops and rounds are not uncommon. They tinker with it until it's time to rush onto the stage. For a preparation of the Performance there is no time for the speech, for the appearance itself. The speakers take their sheets with them and begin to read, since they have not had time to internalize the content halfway. No thought is wasted on the convincing gestures, body language or even the voice. Yet it is precisely the skilful combination of all these elements that transports emotion and persuasiveness. The following applies: A speech that is not so well written will be improved by a successful way of lecturing! A speech that is perfectly formulated on paper is made worse by classes due to the "gifted reading".

Ideally, of course, both. These are great moments for the audience that is allowed to listen to such a lecture. That is why today I am making an urgent appeal to all those who speak publicly: Always take enough time to rehearse your speech speaking aloud. For you and your reputation as a speaker, and for your audience, who will thank you!

Yours, Arno Fischbacher