Leadership Speeches This page has a number of classics from the great speeches from history and three leadership speeches available now

A transformational mind-set is difficult to define since it consists of a number of beliefs, attitudes and values. Three examples are presented below.

Text Only

Bill Moyers— A Great But Broken Promise.

It's difficult to construct a great speech that's transformational in its nature, but this graduation speech to the students at SMU is worth looking looking into.

Video Only

Martin Luther King—I Have a Dream

This 17 minute video captured the powerful words of a truly great speaker. While it is hard to tell from the video, it appears Dr. King started his presentation by reading from a script, then stopped reading from his prepared notes and started speaking extemporaneously.

Steve Jobs—iPhone Introduction

Most business presentations are pretty boring but Jobs has mastered the art of the presentation. You don't have to watch the entire presentation, but one can see why the iphone generated so much publicity.

Barack Obama— Seeking A New Beginning

This was a speech made on June 4, 2009 at Cairo University. The focus of the speech was not so much to discuss policy, as it was to build good will. By studying this speech, one can learn a number of techniques for building rapport with an audience.

Randy Pausch— The Last Lecture

University professors are not generally known for making awesome lectures. However, this is one exception to the rule. In the video, we hear words of wisdom from a professor who knew he was dying of cancer. This has been a viral classic for a long-time, one that has a timeless quality about it.

Speeches With Text and Videos

One can learn to become a great speaker but one needs to have both great content and great delivery. This is not an easy thing to do. The following are examples of video which has a transcript so you can follow along and get a feel for how to deliver the words.

Steve Jobs — 2005 Graduation Speech as Stanford—Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

This is one case, where I do prefer the text to the video version but you should enjoy it if you enjoy a few good stories.

• Text
• Video

Bill Clinton — 2008 Speech at the Democratic National Convention

In terms of polishing communication skills, you might like to look at a recent speech by Bill Clinton. Although it is fairly ethnocentric, focused as it is on the American politics, you get a feel for how to good delivery interacts with good content.

• Text
• Video

Edward Kennedy, Jr. —Eulogy For A Father, August 2009

A great speech does not have to be long, this one is about 12 minutes but it captured many elements that make for a great presentation—there was emotion, there was fluency and there was humor. You also will hear a number of great teaching story, especially one great teaching story, which I call, "The Hill."

• Text
• Video

Richard Field—Leadership Speeches

This page has a large number of speeches, articles, and some interviews made by various presenters, many of them university professors. A good resource.

Saxton Speaker's Bureau—Great Speeches

Saxton has put together a number of great speeches, from the not so well known to extremely famous individuals. On the well known side, you will find speeches by:

• Napoleon Bonaparte
• Margaret Thatcher
• Maximilien Robespierre
• Franklin D Roosevelt
• Abraham Lincoln
• John F Kennedy
• Nelson Mandela

Leadership Development Speeches

Presented by: Murray Johannsen

Transformational Leadership Speech 1: Push The Envelope

A large number of people get leadership confused with management, but they are really very different. Due to this confusion many people to underestimate the importance of developing leadership skills. In this session you will discover the differences between management and leadership, and why leadership skills are critical for accelerating careers and achieving fast growing organizations. Learn the types of skills developed by successful leaders and the traits famous leaders perfect; the major leadership styles seen today and the ones we are likely to see in future. Not choice but habit rules the unreflecting herd. William Wadsworth, 1770-1850 English Poet, Grant That By This Download Push The Envelope as a .pdf file.

Transformational Leadership Speech 2: Influence at Work

Have you noticed that we tune out some but pay attention to every word from others? Do you follow the advice of leaders, but completely ignore the counsel of bosses? There are seven sources of influence those in charge of others can develop. Yet, so many managers only rely on two or three, ignoring the rest. For example, authority works fine in static, bureaucratic environments but typically works less well in fluid, dynamic situations. Learn why some sources of influence work better than others and tactics for increasing personal influence without relying on authority. The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. Kenneth Blanchard Download Influence at Work as a .pdf file.

Transformational Leadership Speech 3: The Methods of Masters: Becoming Great at Leadership

Learn The Fundamental Model Necessary For Building Skills Since building skills is rarely taught, we all have many leadership skills that won’t run that well. Building skill requires learning a skill building model, a method of application of theory in the real world.. Learn The Fundamental Model Necessary For Building Skills This presentation plants the seeds of knowledge that when applied produces growth in ourselves and others. This program presents tangible information to give you a strategic view of what needs to be done—the application comes in the one-day program. Download Methods of Masters as a .pdf file If you study mathematics, you become a mathematician. If you study history, you become a historian, If you study swimming, you drown. Anonymous