Keep it Short

Here is an interesting piece from an article by Andy Lopata of newbusinessthinking.com on the candidates for the UK election that is looming.

He makes the point that most people want the message simply as a slogan and are not interested in details. That is the same for every message or speech.

My favourite saying is "The more you talk the more you dilute your message!'

Here is Andy:

"From a networking perspective, a big factor in deciding who wins the election will rest on a handful of words. The News Channels have been advertising the campaign slogans of the major political parties. The Liberal Democrats' 'Battle Bus', with their campaign slogan 'Change that works for you' proudly pasted across the vehicle and similar coaches and posters from the other major parties, with Labour campaigning under the slogan 'A future fair for all', while the Conservatives are urging the electorate to 'Vote for Change'.

In each case the Parties are attempting to get across in as few words as possible their core message. They know that a large part of the electorate won't listen to much of the detail of the debates, watch Election Broadcasts or read their manifestos. Their best chance of capturing swing votes is to make an impression with a strong phrase that reflects what they stand for."

Dumbing down? Yes, but that is reality.

A lovely story - So simple

I was talking to a friend of mine, Bob Brown, the other day and he remembered when he was a young bank employee in a tiny town in the North of Saskatchewan. He had never been anywhere else. Somehow he had caught the attention of senior management and he was selected to go to Montreal to serve on the staff of the bank president.
In a panic, he rang up his old mentor, a senior banker in Regina, who had spotted him and advised him during his career, so far. "What should I do? How will I be know how to behave in the big city? What should I bring?"

"Just bring Bob Brown" the senior banker said. "That is all they are expecting."

More digs at Obama

There are two sides to this and I am not sure that the photo was entirely genuine! First Obama probably has to speak at least a dozen times every day on topics that he has hardly had time to learn about. If we all had the luxury of sitting down for a few minutes and deciding what we were going to say in the next speech it would be different.

He does not have the time to do that. So, of course,some speeches are going to be totally prepared for him.

Second, I do believe that there is an organisation in the White House that feels it is the fount of all experience when it comes to advising the President what to say and how to say it. We have seen all the last few presidents hobbled by these advisers. They are set on teleprompters because it means that every word they craft will be in its right place. And, unfortunately they are very powerful and they have overcome Obama, who has lots of things to contend with besides giving rousing speeches.

He is not stupid. He is following advice in the early days of his office. When he does get away and be himself, the old Obama of the campaigning is still there.




Hi John!
Do you think the email below is true?!
Is Obama this reliant on teleprompters?

Bronwyn

A recent report showeed Obama speaking to 12 year olds using a full panapoly of teleprompters that surrounded him like a mini-fortress.


How utterly sad and pathetic. He's so devoid of substance that he can't even speak to 12 year-olds without a script


If only it were a parody. Afraid not... he his a pathetic embarrassment.

http://jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com/2010/01/pitiful-obama-needs-teleprompter-to.html

http://www.daylife.com/search?q=obama+Graham+falls+church

Imagine the howls from the libtard press if GW needed a teleprompter to speak to 6th graders. Yet all we consistently hear is that this stupid idiot is so brilliant.

Acronyms gone mad!

Seen in the SCMP yesterday (Sorry; South China Morning Post)this Chinese professor has the following letters after his name: SCPM,HPON,LAS,PHD,DIBA,MBA(I know that one!),SNLP,NLPU,IANLP,ABNLP,INLPA,ABH,FAPN,DSA,PTSL,APG.

It makes you wonder how he has time to actually teach anyone.

Here is a good example of relaxed conversation

John Mack talking at Wharton about leadership. The whole piece is good but start at minute 18.00 and watch how he grabs the imagination with great thoughtful pauses. The link is <"www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9sQtmPAYO0"> or go to Youtube and search for 'Saving Morgan Stanley, John Mack'.

Nice little quote

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.

Please keep the answers short!

If there is one flaw in the excellence of President Obama's speaking skills it is his tendency to go on and on when answering questions. The golden rule is 35 seconds; MAXIMUM! Once you pass that the audience starts to tune out. It is all to do with attention span. We don't mean to, we just do. Those who get the technique of answering questions well make sure that every answer is short (Not terse), but short enough so that the audience find themselves asking more and more questions. One long answer quickly kills the interest.