Speechwriting for Leaders (CWS-025) Training Course

Speechwriting for Leaders

A well-crafted speech can inspire employees, reassure customers, persuade investors and define how a leader is remembered. Writing for the ear is very different from…

5 daysClassroom or online

49Upcoming dates

12Cities

£2,250Fees from

Course overview

Introduction

A well-crafted speech can inspire employees, reassure customers, persuade investors and define how a leader is remembered. Writing for the ear is very different from writing for the page: listeners cannot reread a sentence, so structure, rhythm, repetition and imagery carry the message. Many professionals are asked to write speeches for their leaders without ever being taught how.

This Speechwriting for Leaders training course teaches the craft of writing speeches, keynotes, remarks and talking points that sound natural and achieve their purpose. Participants learn how to research the audience and occasion, capture the leader's voice, build a memorable structure, use stories and rhetorical devices, write for spoken delivery and prepare leaders to deliver with confidence.

Participants write and test their own speeches during the course, hearing them spoken aloud and refining them through feedback.

Course Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

Explain the differences between writing for reading and writing for listening
Research audiences, occasions and objectives for speeches
Capture and reflect a leader's authentic voice
Build clear and memorable speech structures
Use stories, examples and rhetorical devices effectively
Write sentences with rhythm and clarity for spoken delivery
Prepare remarks, talking points and short speeches quickly
Coach leaders on rehearsal and delivery

Target Audience

This training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, including:

Speechwriters and communications professionals
Corporate affairs and public relations staff
Executive assistants and chiefs of staff
Government and public sector communicators
Internal communications managers
Leaders who write their own speeches

Training Methodology

The course is practical and performance-based. Participants analyse notable speeches, interview a partner acting as a leader to capture their voice, write speeches for different occasions and read them aloud for feedback. Rewriting exercises demonstrate the difference that spoken-word techniques make.

Target Competencies

Audience and occasion analysis
Voice capture
Speech structure
Storytelling
Rhetorical technique
Delivery coaching

Course outline

1Day One: Foundations of Speechwriting

Why speeches matter for leadership and reputation
Writing for the ear compared with writing for the eye
The role and relationship of the speechwriter
Types of speeches: keynotes, remarks, toasts and statements
What audiences remember and what they forget
Analysing great speeches and why they work
Exercise: analysing a well-known leadership speech

2Day Two: Research, Purpose and Voice

Briefing questions about audience, occasion and objective
Defining the single message the audience should take away
Interviewing leaders to understand their views and style
Capturing vocabulary, rhythm and personal stories
Writing authentically without sounding scripted
Managing approvals and multiple contributors
Workshop: interviewing a leader and drafting a brief

3Day Three: Structure and Storytelling

Openings that capture attention in the first minute
Simple structures that listeners can follow easily
Using stories, anecdotes and examples with purpose
Transitions and signposting for spoken content
Building to a memorable close and call to action
Timing speeches to the available slot
Exercise: structuring a ten-minute speech

4Day Four: Language for the Spoken Word

Short sentences, simple words and natural rhythm
Repetition, triads and contrast as rhetorical tools
Imagery, metaphor and vivid language used carefully
Using numbers and data in speeches effectively
Humour, sensitivity and cultural considerations
Formatting scripts for easy delivery
Workshop: reading drafts aloud and revising them

5Day Five: Special Occasions and Delivery

Short remarks, toasts and award presentations
Crisis statements and speeches on difficult news
Talking points for panels and media interviews
Coaching leaders on rehearsal and delivery
Adapting speeches for video and virtual events
Final speech delivery and peer feedback
Personal action plan for speechwriting

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Speechwriting for Leaders course?

The course runs over 5 days of classroom training, usually Monday to Friday.

When is the next Speechwriting for Leaders course?

The next public date is 7 - 11 Dec 2026 in London. There are 49 upcoming dates in total.

Where is this course held?

Upcoming sessions run in London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Cape Town, Dubai, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur.

Can I take Speechwriting for Leaders online?

Yes. Every date can also be joined live online in a virtual classroom with the trainer, for £1,280 per participant. Choose "Live online" in the dates table when you register.

How much does the course cost?

Fees start from £2,250 per delegate, depending on the city. Fees include tuition and course materials.

Do participants receive a certificate?

Yes. Delegates who complete the course receive a London Leadership Management Innovation certificate of completion.

Can this course be delivered in-house for our team?

Yes. LLMI can tailor and deliver this course privately for your organisation at your premises or in one of our training cities.

Course information last updated 14 November 2026.

Speechwriting for Leaders

Course overview

Introduction

Course Objectives

Target Audience

Training Methodology

Target Competencies

Course outline

Dates and fees

Frequently asked questions

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