|
With the presidential race in high
gear, you can’t help but compare the speaking styles of the
candidates. But does the ability to deliver a great speech have
anything to do with the ability to lead?
The answer is a tentative “yes,”
according to Baylor University speech communication professor Martin
J. Medhurst, an expert in presidential rhetoric.
“Historically
speaking, there seems to be a correlation between those presidents
we think of as great communicators and those who are considered
successful presidents,”
Medhurst said when interviewed for a recent
story published in USA TODAY.
Medhurst pointed out that Abraham
Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy and
Ronald Reagan were great orators as well as great leaders.
But there are exceptions. John Quincy Adams was a gifted speaker
but is considered by many historians to be a failed president.
So what about the current crop of
candidates? In our view at Speechworks, all the remaining candidates connect
with audiences quite well.
On the Democratic side, virtually
everyone agrees that Barack Obama is a more gifted platform speaker
than Hillary Clinton. We can all learn from Obama’s passionate and
conversational style.
Even her supporters agree that
Clinton can come off as a little stiff on the stump. She sounds a
little too rehearsed, like she’s memorized a speech and is reciting
it rather than just having a conversation.
In fact, Clinton has
tried to turn Obama’s superior speaking ability against him by
saying that he is long on rhetoric and short on substance. But to
Clinton’s credit, she does quite well in more intimate settings.
During the debates where the speaking was far less formal, Clinton's
charming, energetic style matched Obama.
As for John McCain, the remaining
Republican, he too is a good communicator. In informal settings, he
can be quite funny and self-deprecating. When he is delivering a
more formal “platform speech”, he is not particularly flashy. But he
does have a nice conversational style. He also uses the kind of
blunt language that can be quite compelling.
POLITICAL DISCLAIMER: In the past, a small
number of readers have written us angry e-mails when we’ve weighed
in on the speaking ability of presidential candidates. The angry
e-mails usually felt that we somehow favored or slighted certain candidates.
Feel free to write us angry e-mails once again. We love hearing from
you, even if you’re mad. But please understand that we are not endorsing
candidates by commenting on their speaking styles. We do think it’s
appropriate to discuss how candidates communicate. Our company
teaches people about communication. And we think that much can be
learned about public speaking during campaigns.
At Speechworks we
help our clients learn how to communicate in a way that connects and
persuades. If you’re interested in becoming a great communicator
give us a call at 404-266-0888 or check out our website at
www.speechworks.net.
|
