When Michael Gove delivered his first public speech as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice at the Legatum Institute, he offered every aspiring speaker a valuable lesson, not in what to do, but in what to avoid.
Whether you’re a CEO, a senior politician, or a project manager, giving your first public speech in a new role is never easy. The stakes feel high, the spotlight feels brighter, and the pressure to make a strong impression is immense. Your goal is always the same: look confident, speak with impact, and connect meaningfully with your audience.
Mr Gove is no stranger to public speaking, yet his performance highlighted three areas every speaker must master.
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The Opening
Mr Gove began with a polite thank you to the Legatum Institute, followed by praise for its “fantastic work” and “inspirational leadership.” There’s nothing wrong with courtesy, but the first 60 seconds of any speech are precious. They must earn attention, spark curiosity, and signal authority.
His chosen attention‑grabber was:
“I’m here today to talk about how we can make the justice system work for everyone in this country.”
Reasonable, yes, but hardly gripping. It’s a line his audience had likely heard many times before, and it lacked the energy needed to ignite interest.
A better approach
If I’d been coaching him, I would have encouraged a very different approach. His opening acknowledgements should have been brief, sincere, and quickly out of the way. From there, he needed to step into something far more compelling, a provocative insight or a bold truth that immediately signalled why the justice system isn’t working for everyone. Whatever he chose to say, it needed to be delivered with vocal energy, variety, and conviction.
A first impression should never feel predictable
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The Message
Speaking for 30 minutes without notes or slides is challenging, but reading a script word‑for‑word while gripping a lectern is even more challenging for the audience.
No matter how strong your ideas are, reading drains energy, kills eye contact, and creates distance. It turns a speech into a recital, and you may as well email the script and schedule a Q&A.
In 2015 or today, hiding behind a lectern and avoiding genuine eye contact is a missed opportunity.
A better approach
If I were coaching him, I’d have encouraged a far more natural, human approach to the message itself.
Craft the speech in your own words to make it feel authentic. Practise it until you really understand your message, believe in it, and can speak to it without reading. If you need prompts, use small note cards rather than a full script, and whenever possible, step away from the lectern so you can connect with the people in front of you.
A speech should feel spoken, not read.
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Make It Memorable
Mr Gove spoke articulately for 25 minutes, but it was difficult to identify a single core message he wanted his audience to remember. Without variation in tone, pace, or emphasis and without meaningful pauses, the delivery became monotone.
After ten minutes, the lack of vocal variety made it hard to stay engaged.
A better approach
If I were coaching him, I’d suggest:
- cutting the speech in half
- sharpening the central message
- supporting it with a few strong, memorable points
- injecting personality into the delivery
- pausing intentionally to let key ideas land
A memorable speech isn’t about saying more; it’s about saying what matters, well.
Michael Gove is not a poor speaker. He’s simply an example of a common pattern: professionals who spend enormous time crafting the written word but lose impact by reading it verbatim.
It’s easy to critique another speaker’s performance, and he could no doubt critique mine, but the point remains: every one of us has something to learn.
If you need help with any of the ideas presented here:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
Image courtesy of Canva.com
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