5 royal communication lessons from ‘The King’s Speech’

If I were famed movie critic Roger Ebert, I would recommend that anyone who communicates with another human being should see the acclaimed movie, The King’s Speech. I’m not the only one impressed with this movie. It won four Academy Awards.

This is not just for professional communicators, bloggers, or PR pros. There are layers of lessons in this film. Here’s the thumbnail; the takeaways follow.

The Kings Speech is based on the true story of King George VI, played by Colin Firth. Following the 1939 death of his father and the abdication of his older brother, “Bertie” reluctantly assumes the role of monarch. England is on the brink of war and desperately needs a strong leader. Here’s the problem: Bertie has stammered and stuttered all of his life. He’s afraid to jump into this very public role. The underlying reasons for his speech impediment run deep. Bertie’s able to address the challenge with the help of an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue, portrayed by actor Geoffrey Rush. As the speech therapy evolves, so does a touching and unexpected friendship between the men.

Here are five communication lessons for all of us:

1. Have faith in your voice.