VIA VIEW: The King's Speech
We often think about what we learn from formal sources like books and training courses, but actually we are learning all the time. So how about entertainment – what do we learn from that?
A film I often come back to and watch afresh is the King’s Speech. Oscar winning and based on a real story – it's a good formula for me! But what themes emerge that can be helpful in learning & development?
The main plot of the film is King George VI in the lead up to his address to the nation in September 1939. “Bertie” as he was known then was not destined to be King until his brother abdicated, and he rather reluctantly took the throne. The timing could not have been worse – Britain was on the brink of war and technology rapidly improving the communication between the royals and the public. A fact that made King George’s stammer a considerable barrier.
One of the main themes to hit me here is the way “Bertie” is pushed to become King George before he is ready. His brother was meant to fulfil that duty and he was ill-equipped to lead the country. But when I compare that to more common work situations, I see this happen frequently too. People get promoted before they have skills. My natural risk aversion means I often procrastinate on taking a leap forward until I feel perfectly ready. The issue with this is that perfect situation may never materialize. Under pressure we often deliver in a way we could never predict. And that is exactly what happened to King George VI. Faced with leading an empire that represented a whopping 25% of the world’s population, he did not shy away. He stood steadfastly at Buckingham Palace through 9 bombings despite the option to take his family to safer ground. He also provided more visible public support - the National Health Service began under his monarchy and he adapted the honours system so that medals could be awarded to ‘normal civilians’. After a turbulent time in the Royal Family’s history he provided stability and a presence that is synonymous with the “Blitz spirit”. All this despite ‘not being ready’.
Being able to overcome adversity is the ultimate pick me up film plot for me. A stammerer from the age of 8, ‘Bertie’ must have almost given up hope of overcoming his speech defect if it weren’t for the help of Lionel Logue. But Logue was not a conventional therapist. An Amateur dramatic from Australia he learnt his craft working with First World War veterans whose experience of shellshock impacted their speech. On his arrival in London, Logue set up a practice in Harley Street where he used fees from the wealthiest of patients to subsidize those who were poor. His lack of training meant he was widely dismissed by the medical community. In fact, it was not until 5 years after King George’s famous wartime speech that Logue became a founding fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and gained the credibility he deserved. What most people failed to observe is that Logue got results. Even now we can be guilty of dismissing views if they are unconventional or don’t quite fit into a neat box. Are we not guilty too of being biased towards people with backgrounds similar to us? After years of stammering and seeing the top doctors in the country, it took an unqualified amateur actor to truly understand the issue faced and work with King George to overcome it.
What I also love about Logue is that he is not the hero of the piece. A quote I found that resonated with me was that Logue “would never say “I can fix your stuttering” He would say, “You can get a handle on your stuttering. I know you can succeed.”” Like a true coach Logue doesn’t solve King George's problems but rather gives him the tools to do so himself. There is evidence to suggest that Logue insisted the pair meet as equals, and certainly the 2 remained life-long friends. Logue was even bestowed the honour of being appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. In our quest to build skills in the modern world I feel we can forget the importance of a genuine and authentic connection. How much success might Logue have had if it were not to be based on true rapport?
Compared to other films the build-up King George’s wartime speech may not be action-packed. Critics might well argue that a speech cannot be compared to other achievements, especially on the backdrop of World War 2. However, this was a truly personal triumphant moment for this reluctant King. The story of the King’s Speech is a human one. It’s about being able to deliver in a career defining moment and this is what resonates most.
After watching the King’s Speech, I often think of the people who play a role in helping me to succeed, and how I too should help others to do the same. I think about what I can do to face up to my own moment of terror and rise to the challenge - and how I should never believe there is only one way to do so. If I have learnt anything from the King’s Speech, it’s that we are capable of so much more than we believe.
The real King’s Speech is available to view in the historical collection based at Empress State Building, London SW6 1TR
