Understanding Nigel Farage’s Unique Speaking Style

Whether you like them or agree with them or not, figures like David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband, and Nigel Farage know how to speak in public. Some might argue they do it better than others, each possessing an individual style that shines when the pressure is on.

Last week, Nigel Farage spoke at the UKIP 2014 conference at Doncaster Racecourse. Notably, he did so without notes, leaving them on the lectern. No one can accuse Farage of shying away from getting straight to the point or expressing his opinions.

A Commanding Presence

Nigel Farage is a confident and commanding speaker. His authoritative style leaves listeners in no doubt that he has something important to convey. His approach is direct, clear, and has a compelling assertiveness that helps hold his audience’s attention.

For instance, he referenced the previous UKIP conference in London, stating, “A year ago we had our conference in London with about half the number of delegates we’ve got today. I said that we would win the European elections of 22nd May 2014 and that we would create an earthquake in British politics AND WE DID IT.”

That impactful statement set the stage and rallied his party members. Throughout his speech, Farage’s delivery was consistently predictable, bordering on distraction.

The Power of Emphasis

Farage tends not to favour pauses; instead, he punctuates his sentences with a slow, deliberate emphasis at the end of phrases, such as “AND WE DID IT,” creating a rhythm that becomes his hallmark.

He articulates the desires of UKIP supporters for change and cleverly positions himself against the backdrop of political challenges. For example, he emphasized, “FOR TOO LONG, the north of England has resembled a ONE PARTY STATE,” while stating, “Labour’s failure in the North of England is one of the most shocking things I’ve seen in my lifetime.”

Such assertiveness can energize or intimidate an audience, depending on the delivery and tone.

Connection Through Movement

One notable aspect of Farage’s style is his use of movement. He gestures with confidence and maintains eye contact, enhancing his connection with the audience. While he may lack vocal variety, his relaxed, conversational tone portrays a familiar approach, as if chatting with friends at the pub.

However, I found it interesting that he adopted such a combative tone at a critical conference with the General Election approaching. Given the opportunity to inspire, it seemed an unusual choice to lean heavily into a message of frustration and anger, instead of one of uplift and motivation.

The Intent Behind the Message

Mindful presenters share a common trait, they have a clear understanding of how they want their audience to feel after their speech. This brings us to question Farage’s intention. Did he intend to leave his audience feeling sullen?

In my opinion, a speech aimed at energising and invigorating support felt missed.

While he’s not the first politician to embrace this style of speaking, it’s worth considering the long-term impact of such an approach on his audience and his political ambitions.

If you need help with your public speaking and presentation skills:

– 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

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