We are often asked for examples of great presentations and speeches.
Watching those who do it well can be a great way of enhancing your presentation skills and generating new ideas.
And former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff has just provided an example containing plenty of lessons for others to learn.
The former England allrounder has been gaining lots of coverage lately for his excellent Field of Dreams TV series.
But it was his speech at the start of a Test Match on Friday that grabbed our attention from a presentation skills perspective.
When a new player makes their debut for the national team, there is a ceremony where they are presented with a commemorative cap by a former player who says a few words.
And the man widely known as Freddie did it brilliantly,
Footage of the speech he made before presenting Josh Hull’s cap has been shared on social media.
"Sorry, I'm getting all emotional" 🥲
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 6, 2024
Freddie Flintoff delivering a cap presentation for the ages to make Josh Hull feel 9ft tall on debut 🦸 pic.twitter.com/OhBkMSo3i8
And it has been covered by the mainstream media, with the Daily Mail describing it as an “incredible speech”.
Freddie Flintoff puts a tear in the eye of Josh Hull's mum as he delivers an incredible speech before presenting the fast bowler with his England Test debut cap Daily Mail
FLINT LINDOR Freddie Flintoff reduces England star’s mum to tears with incredible speech as fans hail ‘national treasure’ The Sun
Freddie Flintoff moves new England cricket star's mother to tears with emotional speech Mirror
What’s so good about it? And what can others learn from it about public speaking?
Preparation
If you have downloaded our latest eBook – How you can immediately improve your presentation skills – you will know we stress the importance of preparation.
Good preparation lies at the heart of every great presentation or speech.
Freddie had clearly thought about what he wanted to say. It was structured and flowed.
But equally importantly, he had not overprepared. It does not feel robotic or scripted.
Bring the passion
During our presentation skills training courses, we always highlight the role of passion in brilliant public speaking performances.
Passion helps to build a connection with your audience. It persuades. It motivates. It uplifts.
Here’s what Freddie said: “This cap represents so many things. Josh, you are going to play a game now that is a game like no other.
“It’s so much better. It’s so much more fun. It tests your ability. It tests your character. It tests your personality.
“And from what we have seen so far, they are things you have in abundance.
“What a time to come into a team. Because if you look around at all the faces looking at you, everyone in this group is willing you to succeed. And they will be right next to you to get you through the challenges.
“You are about to enter this world of wonder, and I’m so excited for you.”
Later, he added: “When you get older, you sit back and look at this (the cap) and you think, ‘these were the best times of my life. And you’re entering that journey, Josh. Enjoy it. Have the time of your life. And just showcase everything you are about.”
How does that make you feel? How would it have made England’s debutant feel? I’d imagine he would be willing to run through a brick wall for him after hearing those heartfelt and supportive words. It certainly made his mum emotional.
Humour
A little humour can work well in a presentation or speech.
When people are having fun, they are more likely to be receptive to your ideas.
But you must tread carefully – your presentation is not a stand-up routine.
Instead of jokes, add humour to your presentation through stories, anecdotes and metaphors.
Here’s an example of the light-heartedness Freddie weaved into his speech.
“This cap, every time you wear it, you will be filled with pride,” he said.
“You’ll feel unstoppable. It’s got this funny thing it does to you. It’s like when Clark Kent goes into a booth and comes out as Superman.”
Anecdote
I loved how Freddie began his speech by sharing an anecdote with Josh’s family.
He said: 'It's so nice to see that the family are here to share that as well because being a parent myself, I understand what you go through driving him everywhere, taking him places.
“But also, the nerves of watching your kids play, and hopefully, you will have a great week this week watching your son play for England.”
That little personal anecdote, highlighting shared experience, instantly helps to build a connection.
It shows he can relate to how they are feeling.
Stories and anecdotes are an essential part of presentation skill success.
They evoke emotions. They build emotional connections. They make speakers relatable and human. And people remember them.
Be yourself
We always tell our presentation skills training delegates to be themselves when they take to the stage.
And Freddie’s speech is an excellent example of what that looks like.
People love speakers who show their character and sound conversational, genuine and impromptu rather than a presentation or speech that seems rehearsed, scripted and memorised.
A presenter who reads a prepared script - or parrots something they have memorised verbatim - will turn audiences off. And they are unlikely to take much from the presentation.
Being yourself also helps with those pesky nerves. Freddie has spoken before about how difficult he finds being in the spotlight, with the injuries he sustained during his time as a Top Gear presenter still visible. Yet, he came across as confident while giving this speech.
Just like during his playing career, this speech was a top-class delivery.
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