FC Experts Blogs
January 7, 2008
Leadership: In Iowa, The Best Communicators Won!
The results of the Iowa caucuses are in and, no surprise to me, the best communicators won.
Both Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee may have thin resumes, but their ability to inspire, motivate and persuade are unparalleled among the entire field of candidates, Republican and Democratic alike.
This type of oratorical skill is routinely dismissed by officeholder wannabes and their campaigns as not meriting much attention. (It’s also dismissed in the business world.) The only thing that should count, they think, is intellectual skill, political achievements and, perhaps, experience. As we see with the rest of the candidates, especially Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney, they ignore communication skill and style at their peril.
Looking back forty years, my analysis has shown that in each presidential race, the better communicator has won. The winner, by the way, does not have to be a great communicator, just better than his opponent; witness George H.W. Bush v. Michael Dukakis, neither one possessing good communication skills.
Today, such skill is even more important. Candidates are covered and scrutinized relentlessly, their every utterance captured for dissemination to voters. We are persuaded by a candidate’s “likeability,” the elements of which are delivered almost entirely nonverbally, i.e., by the way they look and sound.
Obama, for his part, is untested and has served in the Senate for only a couple of years. His oratory is light on detail and issues, preferring to rely mostly on broad, inspirational and aspirational topics such as hope and change. I have often said about Obama that were it not for his tremendous speaking skill, he would not be on anyone’s radar. Despite his deficiencies, however, voters believe he can be a great president because his speeches are brilliant and soaring, lifting people’s spirits and lifting him into the role of frontrunner for the most important job in the world. He also speaks beautifully, his voice and expression the type we long to hear and see in the leader of the free world and that have, unfortunately, been lacking for the past 8 years. Obama’s skill as a speaker and communicator has changed his life and may change ours.
Huckabee has a vastly different style, but is equally effective. An affable and quick-witted communicator, Huckabee’s brilliance is in his ability to persuade voters that he’s one of them, a regular guy, sensitive to the average American’s needs and plight. He’s also very funny and seems like he'd be fun to be with. We like Mike a lot, and because of this, voters are willing to ignore some of his positions that may not be so much to their liking such as his lack of foreign policy experience and very socially conservative positions. We feel a connection, as we do with Obama, and this connection supercedes any doubts we may have.
My clients and I always get into a discussion of the immense power of nonverbal communication. They are almost universally frustrated that their physical presence has so much influence; they argue with me that it shouldn’t be so, it’s not fair – the only thing that should count is the ability to do the work. My response is always the same: The words they speak are important, but the way they look and sound is equally important. It’s one thing to have a message and another entirely to deliver it with the degree of passion and conviction necessary for it to hit its target.
This is a painful reality for Hillary and Mitt, who must be feeling pretty low right about now. Of course, Iowa is just a blip on the political radar and the New Hampshire results remain to be seen. But if Iowa means anything, it is the continuing and increasing significance of having solid speaking and communication skills. They elevate. They anoint. They're fair. They matter a great deal.
Ruth Sherman • Ruth Sherman Associates LLC • High Stakes Communications • Greenwich, CT • www.ruthsherman.com
Posted by Ruth Sherman at January 7, 2008 10:11 AM | Topic: leadership |
4 Comments
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I appreciate your comments on the leadership styles and competencies of both presidential front-runners. I'd like to add my perceptions of what I believe to be the stronger leadership style that will win the hearts and minds of Americans for the next President of the United States. I believe that Barack Obama brings a leadership style that is crucial for the progress of this country and the world economy. Obama brings a "themed and inspired leadership" presidency to the US that I believe has not been present since the presidency of John F. Kennedy. During my leadership as CEO of Best Practice Institute and my work in developing leaders at our world's best organizations, I have never taken a position on a president. However, there is something different about Barack Obama that I believe not only deserves mention -- it deserves endorsement. Our research has shown that inspiration, motivation, ethical and integrity-based mentorship and coaching, compassionate communication with strong emphasis on positive intent and purpose are critical for effective leadership. Barack brings us all of the elements of inspired, compassionate, and positive leadership that is necessary for the turn-around and success of the US and Global Community.
I think that self-differentiating behavior on the part of the presidential candidates is the single, greatest factor in the race. While Obama and Huckabee may not have the polished political careers of other leaders in their parties (Oy!), what they say AND don't say says something as well (What Peter says about Paul always says more about Peter than Paul).
Historically, many of America's greatest leaders of the past 200 years did not have the resumes for public office commensurate with leaders of their days, but their behaviors towards and concerns for the needs of others compelled and catapulted them to the top of the political frey. In his book, "Profiles in Courage," the late John F. Kennedy placed a bookmark in history of some really great leaders whose resume' for public office left something to be desired and yet they ascended the political frey of their day and emerged as truly courageous. And they spoke the truth prophetically and acted decisively.
I think any truly great leader offers self-differentiating behavior and leadership that places the needs of the many before his or her own needs. While I'd love to see a President Bartlett elected like the one Aaron Sorkin created on "The West Wing," I'd settle for one who is willing to speak the truth prophetically and act decisively, in America and the World! I'd like to be witness to behavior and leadership on the part of the candidates that is congruent with their political rhetoric and public records.
Everything that Lou says makes perfect sense. I would add, however, that style, rhetoric and rhythm are never enough for either President of the United States or the president of Exxon. Deep knowledge are essential, too. The history books are filled with stories of men who were able to move audiences but ultimately failed because their technical knowledge and job skills were lacking.
I say this with all due respect to the immense power of style. I am, after all, a "style" person! Our problem is that we tend to focus on one or the other, not both. The ability to inspire, motivate and persuade is a delivery system for a person's message, knowledge and technical (job) skills. They are of equal value and whomever wins this election will need both.
Jay makes some interesting and valid points that align with what Lou said above. I think it's interesting that both -- and many others -- compare Obama to JFK.
There is a criticial difference, however: JFK's experience as an elected government leader far surpasses Obama's. JFK was a Congressman for 6 years before being elected to the Senate in which he served for 8 years before being elected President. He was, indeed, the epitome of experience plus style that we crave and deserve today and to whom -- sorry guys -- neither Obama, nor any of the others for that matter compare favorably today.