The Lorax spoke for the trees. I speak for the speechwriters. So I hate to side with anyone who refuses to hire one, for any reason.
But a speechwriter wrote me this week complaining that a Huge Corporation refuses to hire him because “they insist” he lives in the place where the headquarters are, “which won’t work for my wife and me.” He’s offered to spend three weeks per month working in an office the company has in his locale, and one week per month in the HQ town, “but no luck. Any advice?”
I had none, unless the CEO was going to be giving speeches quoting Alexis de Tocqueville on topics like the importance of civic organizations and the virtues of capitalism.
Sorry, but outside of politics, there is no such thing as pure speechwriter anymore. Thus, a tagline we permanently attached to the PSA logo several years ago, broadening the speechwriting assignment to “communicators who help leaders lead.”
How in the world are you supposed to help a leader lead in one city, while phoning it in from another? How exquisite a writer, how omniscient a communication counselor would you have to be to beat out, in a job competition, someone who was willing to be there for the boss, in the moment, in the rhythm of the business, whenever a thing went down, or either of you had a good idea, day in and day out, in the belly of the corporate culture?
I used to argue that communicators ought to have offices with doors and a permission to hole up occasionally to think hard and write something big. And I still would defend that—just as I recommend the use of independent speechwriters to get a fresh take on a weary topic or a thought leadership moon shot for a big platform.
But generally, in-house exec comms is no longer a place for literary dilettantes.
I replied: “Honestly, I agree they should have someone in [the HQ town). I don’t think exec comms, for a leaders of a company that really believes in it as I think Huge Corporation does, can be done remotely, very well.”
Any speechwriter who thinks he or she can do the job remotely is more interested in communicating what he or she thinks about the topic rather than what the speaker needs to say. A great speech needs input — lots and lots of input — and you can’t get input relying only on Zoom calls, emails, and internet research. Some of the best input on speeches I ever received were in those accidental moments when I bumped into someone in the hallway, or before a meeting on another subject started because someone else was running late. And let’s not forget the act of finding the speaker’s voice. That happens by listening to conversations; both conversations that include you and those that don’t.
Once the speechwriter has a track record of success and trusting, successful relationships with the speaker and others in the organization that provide input, yes, working remotely is possible. It takes at least a couple of years to build those relationships, so in the meantime the speechwriter should plan on being in the office.