By Margaret Watts Romney, Manuscripts LLC, 2023
Reviewed By Kristin Ameruoso
Vice President of Qualitative Research
Recruit and Field
New York, New York
kristin@recruitandfield.com
What is speakership? How do I know if I have it? How do I embrace it? In Speakership is Leadership, Margaret Watts Romney defines “speakership” as something that goes beyond public speaking to embrace a holistic approach, as you guide others with your words. She takes you on a journey to uncover the truth behind your speakership: how to “see” it, tools to strengthen it, and the inspiration to use it.
I had the privilege of seeing Romney on stage at the QRCA 2025 Annual Conference. Back at home after the conference, after reading Speakership is Leadership, I sat for a moment to process what I had read. I realized that watching Romney speak, I had been able to see speakership in action. As she walked across the stage and engaged the audience, she was using the tools of embracing and strengthening her speakership that she describes in the book. Witnessing that experience—watching her embody speakership—made the words on paper that much more powerful.
In Speakership is Leadership, Romney strips away the pressure and “performance” aspect of being on stage and public speaking. She reframes them in a way that shows how you serve others when you communicate. From a simple situation like sitting at a Thanksgiving dinner table to standing on stage in front of an audience of hundreds with a spotlight shining on you, her message is always to speak with purpose and presence. While that’s easier said than done, Romney’s book provides guidance and practical tools throughout to learn to speak with purpose and presence.
The book takes you on a path that blends a multitude of stories and coaching moments Romney had with people from TEDx speakers to family members, friends, and peers. The stories she shares in the book connect not only on an educational level, but on an emotional level as well.
There is no shortage of information in the book, starting with finding your voice and understanding what your message is. Romney covers how to prepare for speaking, how to hone your skills with practice, and how to understand your voice and your body and the signals it gives during moments of speakership. She tells us how to listen, connect, and understand our audience on a deeper level. “The most frequent advice I give to my TEDx speakers is simplify, simplify, simplify, simplify,” she writes. How can something that is supposed to be simple turn out to be the hardest thing to do? The irony!
What I loved most about this book is how human it is. The message and moments are real. I found myself stopping to think about what I was reading even while I was turning to the next page. Romney’s tone throughout the book is warm, approachable, and motivating. You feel like you have a cheerleader right there next to you—preparing you for your next big speakership moment. Her secondary, but equally important, message—show up with empathy and clarity—really resonated with me both professionally and personally.
Researchers are storytellers by nature, and Romney focuses on the prerequisite elements of storytelling, giving examples and making you think about each one individually. What in this story is grabbing your attention? Why? She provides a visual graph showing how to navigate through a story and come to an understanding of what is there and what is missing. She encourages you to layer your stories with personal moments, emotional connection, and forward-looking messages.
Speakership is Leadership is not just about becoming a better speaker. The book goes deeper than “practice makes perfect” and “here are the rigid steps you must take to improve your speaking skills.” It’s about becoming more thoughtful and grounded in those moments of leadership that occur when you speak publicly. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who leads a team, presents regularly, or wants to feel more confident when they speak.
