In delivering a speech on a serious issue, it’s crucial to strike the right tone.

The expression ‘Read the room’ comes to mind when considering the importance of tone; it means you need to consider the current conversation on the issue at hand, and the general attitude of the audience in front of you when speaking on that subject.

You need to be intuitive and aware of the mood of the moment.

The absolute worst thing you can do when delivering a serious speech is misapply humour.

A good example of this cardinal sin is Boris Johnson’s opening speech at COP26, in which he lightly compares current global leaders to ‘James Bond’ needing to ‘defuse that bomb’ of the climate crisis.

While Johnson is careful to qualify that the current ‘tragedy’ facing the planet ‘is not a movie’, his reference has already bombed, so to speak. Doubling down on the analogy, Johnson erroneously uses it as a framing device, later making the cringeworthy joke that ‘not all of us necessarily look like James Bond’.

Given the graveness of the faces of his listeners—and of the climate crisis itself—Johnson’s pop culture analogy is a total miscalculation, unworthy of the significant moment and opportunity of delivering the opening remarks at such a historic, vital and urgent gathering. The expression of broadcaster and climate activist Sir David Attenborough at 10:28 of this video speaks volumes for how Johnson’s speech is landing.

So what does a serious speech need?

A serious speech requires the observation of decorum—behaviour in keeping with good taste and propriety.

A serious speech requires gravitas—due dignity and solemnity of manner.

Here are three ways to strike the right tone in a serious speech:

1. Tell a short anecdote that illustrates the severity of the situation;
2. Refer to statistics that underscore the magnitude of the problem;
3. Ask a rhetorical question that challenges your audience to internalise the issue.

Needing advice on how to strike the right tone in your speech? Contact me here.